Parents to take legal action against Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne

West Kerry Parents to take legal action against Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne

A group of parents in West Kerry are taking legal proceedings against Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne for the enforcement of their all-Irish policy at the new public school which opened last September in Dingle. Concerned Parents of Chorca Dhuibhne (CPCD) have been lobbying for a change in school all-Irish teaching policy for several months, requesting that a bilingual stream be made available for students.
A solicitor's letter, dated December 7th, has been issued to the Board of Management and the Trustees of the school stating:

"You will be aware if our' clients grave concerns with regard to their children's education arising from the enforcement of the strict all-Irish teaching policy in Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne."
"Despite discussions, communications and extensive correspondence with the Board of Management the Trustees and the Minister for Education or clients urgent concerns have not been addressed."
"We are putting you on notice that after the expiration of seven days from the date of this letter we will proceed to commence High Court proceedings against which will include the seeking of injunctive relief."
The move towards legal action has been described " inevitable" by many local parents. A number of public meetings have been hosted on the matter over the last few months highlighting the problems experienced by several students at the school.
Concerns arose from the parents of children with learning difficulties who felt their children could not cope with the all-Irish policy.Some other students who moved to the area from other countries said it was impossible for them to do well in school through Irish alone while students from the Annascaul area said they felt they were being ignored in the debate, as they are in the Dingle school catchment area, but are not in An Ghaeltacht.
In October, up to 80 students staged a sit-out at the school for two days, refusing to attend classes unless a change in policy was implemented.
Minister for Education Mary Hanafin ordered that a survey be conducted on students and parents in the school in an effort to resolve the situation, however since then no survey has taken place.
In a statement released by the group last week CPCD last week, they claimed that several students at the Dingle school have resorted to 'grinds' in Tralee several times a week as they do not understand what is happening in class, calling for "compassion for children who are unable to reach their potential due to the all-Irish policy enforcement at the school" as there is no other public school in the area.

Potential multi-million euro development for Dingle

Garvey eyes Dingle as location for multi-million euro development

Planning is currently being sought at Emlagh in Dingle for a multi-million euro development by local businessman Tomás Garvey, includes the construction of a shopping and parking complex along with a large residential development at the entrance to the town.
Plans have been submitted to Kerry County Council by the Garvey Group and Bricklin Ltd for the development at the juncture of Mail Road and Emlagh on the Tralee side of Dingle.
If planning is granted at the site the project is anticipated for completion in the summer of 2009. The shopping complex outlined in the plan will cover almost 6,000 square feet and will be three storeys high. Garvey's Supervalu, which is currently located at Holyground will move there along with several other shop units, a restaurant and staff accommodations.
A large parking unit will also be included in the site if planning goes ahead with over 300 parking spaces for shopping and general usage in the town.
The plans also includes the proposed construction of 33 housing units made up of apartments and terraced housing at the Emlagh site, which is close to the waterfront where the Dingle Skellig Hotel is situated. Developers anticipated the creation of over 200 jobs if the project goes ahead. Plans for the development were submitted to Kerry County Council this week and a decision is anticipated in two months time. Submissions regarding the project will be accepted over the next five weeks.

West Kerry artist to exhibit in Paris

Paris match for West Kerry artist
Liam O'Neill to exhibit in French capital

One of the county's most celebrated artists, West Kerry man Liam O'Neill, is set to take the European art world by storm this Spring as as prepares to unveil a new collection of work in Paris. Details of the exhibition were announced this week which will take place at the Greenlane Gallery-Paris between February 9th and 29th. Dingle native Susan Callery is the gallery's curator and owner and the Parisian location is the sister gallery of Greenlane-Dingle, where some of Ireland's leading artists, including Pauline Bewick, have shown their works. Considered by many art critics as one of Ireland's most talented and sought after contemporary artists, Liam's Parisian exhibition will focus largely on his unique figurative work, including large portraits of Irish writers such as James Joyce, Samuel Beckett, Brendan Behan and Oscar Wilde. After Liam's showing in Paris his exhibition continues at Greenlane Gallery- Dingle with some large scale oils of his home place Corca Dhuibhne (West Kerry) from March 8th to the 20th.

Sam Maguire on ward duty in Dingle Hospital!

Sam Maguire on ward duty!

Patients delight as Kerry stars visit Dingle Hospital

The patients of Dingle Hospital received a lovely surprise last Thursday (27th December 2007) as their day was interjected with a call from a very special visitor, none other than the Sam Maguire Cup! Kerry football stars, footballer of the year Marc Ó'Sé, his brother Tomás, along with Dingle's own Tommy Griffin brought Sam Maguire on a visit of the wards, making time to stop at every bed to chat and share the cup with the community hospital's elderly patients.