Kerry Association in Dublin calls down from capital for annual trip
MORE than 80 people joined the ‘Kerry Association in Dublin’ on their annual trip this week, as the city-slickers swapped Ireland’s capital for a weekend of entertainment in Tralee and Listowel.
The association’s annual weekend ran from Friday to Sunday (October 6 to 8), and the getaway from the hustle and bustle of Dublin featured a Saturday in Listowel including a Gabriel Fitzmaurice-guided walk by the River Feale and through the Garden of Europe.
“Gabriel, along with Karen Trench and Eileen Cronin, regaled the group with poetry, songs and recitations from local writers,” Kerry Association in Dublin Chairperson Keelin Kissane told The Kerryman. “Then, in the afternoon, master of ceremonies Billy Keane, along with Mickey McConnell, Gabriel Fitzmaurice and Kevin Barry, enthralled us all during an afternoon of pub theatre at John B Keane’s.
“It was a hugely enjoyable weekend, and we saw Kerry hospitality at its best in both Tralee and Listowel”, she added.
The association also revealed that the 2018 weekend away, which will be the association’s 25th, will be held in Ennis.
The committee is also planning its flagship annual event, Oíche Chiarraí, which will take place on March 2 next in the Ballsbridge Hotel, Dublin. The recipients of the Kerry Person of the Year award and Laochra Chiarraí, the top group award, will formally receive their trophies that night. Nominations for both prizes are now being accepted via info@kerryassociation.ie ahead of the November 30 closing date. WHILE parts of Killarney National Park might have been off limits following Hurricane Ophelia, the latest in the Autumn Lecture Series at Killarney House is sure to be welcome after all that storm anxiety. A lecture by Dr Tim Burkitt on the history of the Kerry Deer Society - which celebrates its fiftieth anniversary this year - takes place on Thursday night (Oct 19) at 8pm and all are welcome to attend.
Since 1967 the Kerry Deer Society has encountered various challenges in the study, preservation and control of deer population in Killarney National Park and Dr Burkitt will talk about the future challenges and opportunities regarding the society, which will be of interest to people with a love of deer and their ancient history and association with Kerry.
Dr Burkitt is a Conservation Ranger at Killarney National Park specialising in Deer Management. Since 1989 he is District Conservation Ranger with the National Parks & Wildlife Service in Killarney but also covers north Cork and east Kerry districts.
Dr Burkitt is a qualified deer biologist with expertise in deer management, specifically deer census techniques and he recently established his own Deer Management Company offering practical advice to land managers, foresters and others experiencing problems with deer. Tim also offers advice on woodland management and how to deal with deer damage in woodland environments.
Killarney House and Gardens advise that parking should be at Beech Road Car Park. The side gate to Killarney House will be opened and the advice is to come early.