THE RISE OF TRALEE AS A POSSIBLE CITY

KERRY may be The Kingdom but its still doesn’t have a city. Yet that could be about to change – as the county town of Tralee is to seek city status.

A motion from the mayor of the town is being put before a meeting of the Municipal District of Tralee next Monday and is likely to get widespread support.

Fianna Fáil councillor Thomas McEllistrim, who is the current cathaoirleach of Tralee, said city status for Tralee was one of his priorities when he was elected as mayor.

‘On population grounds alone, why shouldn’t Tralee be designated a city when Kilkenny is?’ Mr McEllistrim asked.

The population of Kilkenny is at 23,000, while Tralee’s was 22,200 at the last census.

Conferring city status on Tralee, the county town which famously hosts the annual Rose Of Tralee contest, would have several advantages.

‘It would make a big difference to Tralee from a tourism point of view. People tend to go to cities,’ Mr McEllistrim. Education would also benefit with university status especially.

But a spokesman for the Department of Environment and Local Government said the move for city status would require legislation. The various Local Government Legislative Acts have historically set out which councils are city councils and which are county councils.