BLUEGRASS AND IRISH DANCING HILARITY AT ST JOHN’S THEATRE

Yonder Boys will play out St John’s Winter Season on Thursday 26th January. The Berlin-based trio will serve up a powerhouse of tunes, bringing a great variety of influences to the genre. This band mixes traditional, old-time, Americana sound with bluegrass, pop, Latin, and psychedelic styles.

The band features the singing duo Jason Serious (USA - vocals, guitar) and David Stewart Ingleton (Australia - vocals, banjo). Both have performed as support for names such as Billy Bragg, The Wood Brothers, Timber Timbre, Other Lives, and Nathaniel Rateliff and are accompanied by multi-instrumentalist Tomás Peralta (Chile - vocals, mandolin, banjo, bass).

On Saturday 28th January, The Humours of Bandon will travel to Listowel with its hilarious account of the trials and tribulations of Ireland’s competitive Irish Dance scene. Written and performed by Margaret McAuliffe, the play is a coming of age story of 16year old Annie, an Irish Dancer from Dublin and we meet her on the eve of the biggest competition of her life, the Irish Open Championships 1999. She charts us through the various successes and disappointments of her Irish Dancing life.

All tickets available from box office 068 22566 and www.stjohnstheatre.ie For further info: Maire Logue 068 22566

Rock Night Fundraiser For The Palliative Care Unit

On Saturday, February 04, 2023 a Rock Music night is happening and this is a night not to be missed. Tomaisins in Lisselton will be hosting a huge lineup for the Palliative Care Unit at University Hospital, Kerry in memory of Billy Leahy, Trien, Kilmorna.

Organised by his friends, the impressive lineup will include well known local artists, Mudcat, kicking off the night followed by, headline act, Whiplash, Metallica Tribute Band with the night being rocked away by the very entertaining DJ, Martin Behan.

Tickets are just €10 for this mega night. A number of impressive Spot Prizes will be raffled on the night. To support this very worthy cause tickets are available from Brian at 087 1497210, John 087 2116353 & Dave 087 7584129. Tickets will also be available at the door on the night. Don’t miss out, buy your tickets now and support this great cause, it will be a fantastic night.

Billy was a heavy metal rock fanatic all his life, always sharing his love of rock (heavy rock) with his family and friends. Billy was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in October 2021 and passed away on February 17 2022. He faced his diagnosis with tremendous courage and strength. He spent time in the Palliative Care Unit in UHK where he received the best of care from the dedicated team attached to the unit. His family will be forever grateful for their care and attention to Billy.

Unfortunately many families have been touched by this awful disease and this facility in Tralee and many others around the country do a wonderful job offering care and support to patients and their families. All proceeds from this event will go towards the Palliative Care Unit, UHK. We thank you for your support

By Con Dennehy

Asdee Handball Star Honoured At Agm

The highlight of 2022 for members and supporters of Ballymacelligott Handball Club was the phenomenal success in Munster championships of Master players Dermot Casey and Asdee native Pat Lacey. This success was acknowledged at the Annual General Meeting of the club which took place at the Ballymacelligott Handball Complex, which opened in 1950, on Tuesday night.

During the meeting, the treasurer of the Kerry Handball Board and Ballymacelligott club secretary Danny Riordan presented both players with their hard earned Munster medals to the delight of all the attendees.

It was an exciting season for Casey and Lacey. In March they reached the Munster Masters B Doubles 40x20 final in Boherbuee where they played Tim Joe Healy (Ballydesmond) and John Lyons (Macroom) in a pulsating final. Both sets of players each won a game with the decision resting on the result of a tie break game won by just a single point by the Cork side.

However the Kerry duo extracted sweet revenge on their Cork opponents in July winning a classic and evenly contested Munster Diamond Masters 60x30 B final played in Broadford in July and ensured their place in the annals of Munster handball.

Recovery Haven

Ferry Rangers organised a charity match between Ferry Rangers ‘Young Guns’ and ‘Old Stagers’ held on New Years Eve and raised €1,100 for recovery haven cancer support house. The event was organised by Evan Allen and they would like to say a huge “Thank You” to anyone who supported.

Pictured are: (L-R) Denis Flavin, Evan Allen, Noelie Brosnan, Shane Heffernan and John McGinley of Ferry Rangers with Rita Gilbert of Recovery Haven Kerry

Listowel Active Retirement Meetings Recommence

The Listowel Active Retirement meeting will resume again on Tuesday 7th February in St. Patrick’s Hall from 2.30pm to 4.30pm. All are very welcome, current and new members.

MINISTER FOLEY WELCOMES OVER €4 MILLION IN COMMUNITY RECOGNITION FUNDING

Minister for Education and Kerry T.D Norma Foley welcomes the announcement €4,403,073 in funding for Kerry County Council through a new Community Recognition Fund.

This major initiative, the first of its kind, is designed to specifically support communities across the country that have welcomed and are hosting families and citizens from Ukraine and many other countries.

This funding will support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community in Kerry.

Among the projects that will be supported under the fund include:

• The refurbishment of local sports clubs and facilities

• The upgrade of community facilities such as play areas, walkways, parks and community gardens

• The purchase of equipment to benefit local clubs, festivals, music and arts organisations

• The enhancement of school or parish facilities that are open to the wider community after hours or on weekends

• Transport infrastructure such as community vehicles and bus shelters

In total €50 million has been allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there.

Minister Foley said: “This funding initiative is designed to specifically support those communities who have welcomed and are hosting families and citizens from Ukraine and other countries.

“This funding stream is specifically designed to recognise the vital role our communities are playing and will support, enhance and improve facilities that are open to the wider community.”

“Among the projects that will be supported under the fund are the refurbishment of local sports clubs and facilities; the upgrade of community facilities such as play areas, walkways, parks and community gardens and the purchase of equipment to benefit local clubs, festivals, and music and arts organisations.”