New look Mall to open for festival
Trucks are on their way from all over Ireland for the fundraiser and the event is suggestive of the high regard people have for the ‘Buy a Bus’ campaign with fundraising efforts branching out across the county.
“I met Agnes Rooney at a barn dance she organised at Kate Kearney’s Cottage recently and it was a great night. Agnes does great work for this charity and I said I would do a truck and tractor event to help raise funds. There will be all makes and shapes of models on display, new and old,” said organiser, Padraig Clifford.
The ‘Buy-a-Bus’ campaign is spearheaded by the Kerry Parents and Friends Association and currently there are two buses on the road.
However, ‘ bus funds’ are constantly in need to help ensure this essential service is maintained for people with special needs.
“These buses are very important as they give a life to people which is why it’s important to come to PEOPLE will get their first taste of Tralee’s new look Mall during this year’s Rose of Tralee Festival.
The town’s main shopping thoroughfare has been closed off since early May to allow for the complete refurbishment a of the street.
With the majority of the new paving now laid it has been decided that most of The Mall – from the Denny Street junction to Quinlan’s corner – can be safely opened up to pedestrians for the duration of the festival, which runs from August 16 to 22.
Market food and craft stalls will be allowed set up and ply their trade along the northern edge of The Mall with the rest of the area open for revellers to gather and enjoy the festivities.
The Mall will remain closed to all motor traffic.
Contractors Craddock Ltd have been working hard to ensure The Mall would be ready in time for the festival, with a marquee canopy erected over a section of the street to ensure work could continue during the recent bad weather. Milltown over the August Bank Holiday weekend and support us,” added Padraig.
Meanwhile, Agnes Rooney has described the surge in interest behind the ‘Buy-a-Bus’ campaign as an example of how it has touched people’s hearts.
“The fact more people are now coming to us with ideas and ways to raise money is the big story, really. It goes to show what this story means to people and their communities when they see the buses on the road. We now have people from Glenbeigh to Beaufort
Work on the street will be paused for two weeks to allow for the festival and holiday’s for Craddock’s workers.
When the festival concludes The Mall will once again be sealed off to allow for completion of the works, which also involve the installation of trees and street furniture.
All work is on schedule to be finished by mid November.
The opening of The Mall means disruption to festival events will be minimal with only Sunday’s Rose Parade required to take a diversion from its usual route.
Several parade floats have also been driven along Denny Street to ensure the new speed ramps there posed no obstacle.
The floats all passed over the ramps with no difficulties.