Court hearing held for €850,000 Dingle drugs seizure

Two people have been sentenced following a drugs seizure of €850,000 (72 kilos) worth of cannabis in Dingle last July.
Spanish national Ignacio Goyeneche and Lisa Basire, with an address in Ballyhea near Dingle pleaded guilty to ‘possession for sale or supply’ at the hearing in Tralee District Court last Monday - Judge Carroll Moran sentencing Goyeneche to seven years in prison and Basire to three years.
Following an anonymous tip-off, the cannabis was discovered in early morning raids in several locations around Dingle last summer and it has emerged that the drugs were smuggled into the town by a Spanish crime gang using an Irish trawler. The drugs travelled aboard the trawler from Northern Spain to Bantry in Cork to Dingle.
According to Goyeneche’s testimony,the majority, 65 kilos worth €785,000, was stashed in hidden compartments under a bed in the home of Lisa Basire in Ballyhea. The rest, 50 bales worth €76,000, was hidden behind panels in the boot of Goyeneche’s Volvo car.

Dingle connection to Bride Wars blockbuster

Dingle has always had stars in its eyes so to speak when it comes to Hollywood; as the location of David Lean’s Ryan Daughter screen legends such as Robert Mitchum made the area their home during filming.
Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman also lived locally while filming Far and Away while the likes of Julia Roberts escaped the world media when she broke off her engagement to Kierfer Sutherland by fleeing to Greenmount House overlooking the town. Cillian Murphy owns a house locally while Gabriel Byrne was the special guest at this years Dingle Film Festival.
Over the years, Hollywood has always made its way to Dingle, but this time, Dingle is making its way to Hollywood as one of our own recently secured a part in a major Hollywood movie.
Bride Wars opened in cinemas this week; the romantic comedy tells the story of best friends Emma (played by Anne Hathaway) and Liv (played by Kate Hudson) who become rivals after their weddings are scheduled in the same venue on the same day.
Shannon Ferber (10), (pictured, above, on the far right) who plays the role of the young Anne Hathaway (pictured above left) in the movie, happens to be the daughter of Blaithín Ferber (nee Sheehy), a native of Lady's Cross, Milltown, Dingle who moved to the states some years back. Blaithín's parents are Tommy and Ursula Sheehy, who now live in Tralee, while her Uncle Celsius Sheehy and his wife Margaret still live in Milltown-Dingle with their families. Shannon's aunt Gráinne, sister of Blaithín is married to RTE news correspondent Paschal Sheehy.
It’s a double connection as Shannon has the Corca Dhuibhne ties on her Dad’s side too; her father Michael Ferber hails from New York but his mother is Mary O'Dowd of Baile an Lochaigh in West Kerry, a sister of Bridie Fitzgerald, the wife of ex-FF senator Tom Fitzgerald.
After starring modelling and starring in many TV and print adverts (including campaigns for Macy’s and Bloomingdales), Shannon was handpicked for the role by Anne Hathaway herself.
Shannon attended the star-studded New York premiere of Bride Wars on January 5th, walking the red carpet with her parents Blaithín and Michael, brother Dillon (3) (who also has a small part in Bride Wars (his likeness appearing in a family album at the beginning of the movie) and brother, Brendan (6).

"Shannon and the family love coming home to Dingle every summer and we are so looking forward to seeing them this year – we are so proud of all of them” said Shannon’s Grandmother Ursula Sheehy.
Bride Wars is currently on general release in cinemas all over Ireland for listings check http://www.omniplex.ie/

Captions: Zoe O'Grady and Shannon Ferber at the premiere of Bride Wars in NYC on January 5th. Zoe plays a young Kate Hudson in the movie while Shannon plays a young Anne Hathaway (pictured at the premiere above right).Shannon's family hail from Dingle while Zoe also has Irish connections; her father is from Mount Merrion in Dublin.

Live register up 57% in Dingle

A sign of our times

Dole queues in Dingle are set to get longer as the recession hits West Kerry hard.
New figures released by the Central Statistics Offices reveal a large increase in those signing on the live register - more than 57% more people are signing on in Dingle this year with 609 on the live register in December 2008.
Overall, 12,364 signed onto Kerry’s live register this December alone representing the the sixth highest rate in the country; more than a 40% increase on the 2007 figure. The trend shows no sign of abating with new job losses and lay-offs being announced everyday - a large supermarket in Dingle town is said to have laid off seven of its staff this week alone.

HSE to investigate death of woman following childbirth

The Health Service Executive is investigating the death of a mother who died after giving birth at Kerry General Hospital (pictured left) last Sunday.
Triona Cuddy (34) of Cois Cnoic, Dingle died immediately after the birth of her baby boy last Sunday morning. Her newborn son remains in a serious condition at the hospital.
A full investigation of the circumstances surrounding the woman's death has been ordered by the Health Service Executive.
Ms. Cuddy, who originally hailed from PortLaoise, worked in Garvey’s SuperValu in Dingle and her passing has deeply upset friends and co-workers. Her partner also works as a barman in the town.
It is understood that a post mortem examination took place on Monday and that a review of maternity services is be undertaken at the hospital. In a statement released by the HSE the family of the deceased have asked the media to respect their privacy to allow them mourn their loss. In respecting their wishes, the HSE has agreed to make no further comment.

Dáithí Ó Sé: West Kerry's answer to Simon Cowell?

West Kerry is to have an exerting influence on one of the biggest TV shows to hit Irish screens in recent times as Corca Dhuibhne native Dáithí Ó Sé takes on the task as judge on Ireland's largest nationwide talent contest, RTÉ's All Ireland Talent Show, screened on Sunday evenings at 6.30pm on RTÉ One. Over 500,000 viewers tuned in to see the first episode of Ireland's answer to the X-Factor which saw Boyzone's Shane Ward select five acts to represent the Dublin region. West Kerry native Dáithí will become the Gaeltacht's answer to Simon Cowell as he selects five acts to present the Connacht region.

The Dingle News spoke to Dáithí this week about the responsibility of becoming a TV judge.

"I suppose it was difficult at first to be the judge representing the West of Ireland, as a Kerryman you always have a loyalty to your home" said Dáithí, referring to the fact that Fáilte Towers winner RTÉ John Creedon will be judging the Munster acts, appropriately assisted by South Kerry Councillor Michael Healy-Rae.

"I have lived and worked in Galway for the last eight years now so you have to put the parish aside and do the best for the acts you are representing- I suppose I'm like Páidí Ó Sé when he went off to manage Westmeath!" said Dáithí. "While we can't give away too much there are some very contemporary acts as well a lot of traditional stuff and some excellent family entertainment." In the coming weeks fellow judges John Creedon (the South), Bláthnaid Ní Chofaigh (the East) and Dana (the North) will select five acts from the different regions. "It'll be a 50-50 between the public vote and the judges decision as to who goes through from the different regions, its one of the most exciting shows in recent times and I'm delighted to be involved" Dáithí added. Presented by Gráinne Seoige, the series will showcase talents from all over the country with the winner receiving an amazing prize of €50,000. Catch the All-Ireland Talent Show on Sunday's at 6.30pm on RTÉ One. For more information and video clips visit;

http://www.rte.ie/tv/talentshow/avlong.html?2469614,null,243

Annascaul parents brave freezing tempertures in all-night queues at Tralee school

Out in the cold....

Parents from the Annascaul area joined parents in Tralee last night (Friday January 9th) as they queued in freezing temperatures in order to secure places for their children at the school in the next school year at the Presentation Secondary School Tralee. A similar scenario ensued last week as parents queued for five nights to secure places for their children at another Tralee school, Mercy Mounthawk Secondary School.

However significantly, many of the parents from the Annascaul area who are queuing tonight in freezing temperatures are doing so over the debacle at Pobalscoil Chorca Dhuibhne where an all-Irish teaching policy is in place.

Annascaul's primary school, Scoil Breac Chluain, is within the Dingle school catchment area, which also means a school bus service is supplied.

According to the families, many of the pupils would like to attend the Dingle school, however feel that they cannot cope with the pressure of studying every subject through the medium of Irish, as primary school teaching in Annascaul is done bilingually.

Calls to introduce a bilingual stream in the school were turned down and a group, Concerned Parents of Chorca Dhuibhne, began legal proceedings against the school.

However the High Court has since appointed a mediator, prestigious barrister Dr. Gerald Hogan, the author of several books and numerous articles and who has appeared in and argued many important cases in the High Court, Supreme Court, European Court of Justice and the European Court of Human Rights. He is expected to arrive at the school to begin mediation talksn between the school's board of management and the parents group this month.

However for the parents of the children who felt they had no choice but to pursue second level education in Tralee, they will for now, in their own words, continue to remain out in the cold.

Pictured above left, members of the Concerned Parents of Chorca Dhuibhne group.

Irish language initatives for local authority tenants

Local authority tenatnts to avail of Irish classes and courses initative
A new course for Local Authority tenants in Gaeltacht areas is allowing them to build up their Irish language skills, as well as improving their employment prospects into the future. The Tenants’ Irish/ Tourism course, which was launched in Dún Chíomháin, Baile an Fheirtéaraigh on Friday, January 9th, has been organised by Kerry County Council, Fáilte Ireland, Údarás na Gaeltachta, and Kerry Education Service, with nine students attending classes three times a week since last October. In April, a further nine students will take the next module of the course. This will see Fáilte Ireland’s Hospitality/Food & Beverage course delivered through the medium of Irish, the first time ever that this has happened.
“All the agencies involved have a commitment to preserving and promoting the Irish language and culture in Gaeltacht areas,” Roibeard Ó hEartáin, Oifigeach Gaeilge with Kerry County Council explained.
“The agencies, and the tenants themselves, felt that there was a need to for supports to be put in place to allow the tenants to improve their language skills. This would help to promote the language and also allow them and their families to better integrate into the local community and culture.”
Using feedback from the tenants and with the aid of the agencies involved, a course schedule was arranged, which would address the needs of the tenants.
“For example, one of the modules is called School & Home, and allows parents to help their children with their homework,” Roibeard pointed out.
“Additionally, the Fáilte Ireland course can give the students an additional skill, particularly in relation to cultural tourism, which is a major employer in the West Kerry area.”
For further information contact Roibeard Ó hEartáin at 066-7183532.

Food for thought...

Lón Gaelach san Ionad Teanga sa Daingean - Irish Language Luncheon in Dingle
Bí linn don lón ag 1pm ar an Máirt, an 22ú Eanair agus gach tarna Máirt ina dhiaidh sin. Tar go dtí an tIonad Teangan ar an Meall, bíodh blaiseadh le n-ithe agat agus dein do chuid Gaoluinne a labhairt nó a chleachtadh. Tuilleadh eolais: Máire Nó Caitríona ag 066-9156100
All are welcome to lunch ‘tré Ghaeilge’ at the Language Centre on the Mall, Dingle, at 1pm on Tuesday, January 22nd and every second Tuesday afterwards.

Record crowds in Dingle on New Year's Eve

Recession? More like a session!

Fireworks and New Year's celebrations draw record crowds to Dingle

The boom was back for a limited time only in Dingle last week as record numbers converged on the town to enjoy the New Year's celebrations last Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday night. Local guesthouses, B&Bs and hotels were packed to capacity catching pubs, shops and restaurants on the hop so to speak as they struggled to meet the demand as visitors of all ages, from young party-goers to families to the more senior, filled the town and surrounding area. The recession turned session in Dingle last Tuesday as locals were surprised to find their usual haunts jammed packed that night with visitors. Many pubs even had some punters jump behind the bar to help out with the onslaught of bodies in some of the town's most popular nightspots. People continued to arrive in the town on New Year's Eve and as B&Bs and hotels began to fill a 'no room at the Inn' scenario saw many visitors struggle to find accommodation at the last minute. A thrilling fireworks display hosted by the Dingle Business Chamber at the head of the pier at 10pm on New Year's Eve saw people turn out in their thousands. Such were the crowds that many visitors and even locals opted to park outside the town and walk in the see the amazing light-show sponsored by local businesses in the town. Pubs and restaurants were soon jam-packed as party-goers of all ages congregated in the town centre at the Mall Bridge where a digital countdown clock was beamed via a projector onto the gable of a large building. The Dingle Fife and Drum Band then marched through the town as the clock struck twelve to ring in the New Year making their way to the Mall Bridge to greet the party-goers. Cash registers rang in the New Year as publicans saw their premises come alive for the first time in many months. Local nightclub, the Hillgrove, had to close their doors early despite being one of Kerry's largest nightclubs. The town's other late nightspot, An Droichead Beag was also packed to capacity as bouncers worked to ensure the safety of its patrons. Despite the record numbers the night went off without any major incidents and a feeling of goodwill was generally in evidence as the singing and dancing went on into the early hours. New Year's Day saw many of the visitors opting to stay on as staff worked hard in pubs and restaurants around the town to feed the hungry punters which saw queues form in many establishments as people waited for free tables in many of the town's eateries. A Duck-Race was hosted on the Mall River as well as Two-Time Polka in O'Flaherty's Pub that afternoon which saw the popular trad pub packed to the rafters. The party continued on New Year's Day with another lively night out on the town.

Pictured left, Danielle Slye and Mary Farrell (Ballyferriter & Dingle), pictured right, Lorraine and Debbie Scanlon (Lispole & Dingle) in Ashe's Bar on Main Street. Pictures courtesy of Sinead Bawn Brosnan.