Here a few photos from the recent Fruit Tree Pruning and Maintenance Workshop on Saturday 10th of February. Thanks to everyone who took part, to Niamh Ní Dhuill for facilitating and to Brendan for the surprise snack.
This event was supported by Kerry Council via their Community Support Fund.
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Learn how to care for and maintain fruit trees and shrubs to maximise fruit production and prevent disease. This practical, interactive workshop with also cover how, why, & when to prune followed by a hands-on pruning demonstration.
Fruit Tree Pruning and Maintenance Workshop Saturday 10th of February, Tralee.
There will be a bit of theory but in the main it will be a hands-on workshop where you can try your hand at some pruning.
All tools will be provided (thanks to Transition Kerry) but it would be good to wear appropriate clothing/footwear and gloves.
The trees we will be working on are right by the Connolly Street/Brendan’s Park crossing point of the Tralee-Fenit Greenway, but we can meet at Rock St section of Greenway near Werner Heinrich engineering, opposite the entrance to Dunnes at 10:30, if you are late, you will find us a little walk up the Greenway.
No better way to start the (lunar) New Year !
This workshop is free thanks to the support of Kerry County Council Community Support Fund and is facilitated by Transition Kerry.
Came across what is likely the first mention of the greenway in the media, this article is from the Kerry’s Eye inMarch 2009, 13 years ago this month !
The Spa/Fenit Community Council later secured LEADER funding to redevelop the route from the Spa to Fenit, with Kerry County Council backing the the continuation to Tralee. Clearance work commenced in 2010.
Kerry County Council have just shared a short video of sections of the greenway route. It looks like the footage was captured last year so there has been significant progress since.
It was great to catch up with “The Greenway Man” Garvan Cummins yesterday while he was visiting Kerry and take the opportunity to show him the progress of the Tralee-Fenit Greenway.
Garvan was a co-founder the voluntary community campaign group, the Déise Greenway who campaigned for the transformation of the old Dungarvan to Waterford Railway Line into a Greenway. The campaign was responsible for highlighting the huge potential which the Greenway would have and helped make the project a reality, in turn driving the greenway revolution in Ireland.
The Déise Greenway group was founded around the same time as this campaign, and it was interesting to discover that we had a lot of the same experiences and encountered similar challenges over the years.
Even thought the Déise Greenway campaign has been a success and the Waterford Greenway is now open, Garvan still lives and breathes the greenway, running a bike rental business from his base in Durrow Co. Waterford. In addition to offering bikes, Garvan also offers history tours taking advantage of his long involvement in greenway campaigning to provide visitors with information and insights that can not be matched by others.
If you are visiting the Waterford Greenway be sure to give him a shout, for more information visit: thegreenwayman.com
Last week Brendan Griffin (someone who is no stranger to the greenway) paid a visit to listen to the concerns of local residents and businesses regarding the lack of an access point to the greenway at Kilfenora.
While an access point in Kilfenora was expected with one even been indicated as part of the planning application for the greenway it has since transpired that access in the area was no longer part of the project, with residents been told that the closest official access point will be the pump station in Fenit, requiring a 2km trip along the busy and narrow main Fenit R558 Road.
If the greenway is to be a success it is essential that access is provided for locals and visitors alike, in line with the ‘Greenways and Cycle Routes Ancillary Infrastructure Guidelines’ this location would make an idea minor trailhead:
In addition to providing practical resources such as parking and direction signage, these minor trailheads should ideally encourage participation from local residents and from passing impulse participants, and can also act as Route Rest Areas
Greenways and Cycle Routes Ancillary Infrastructure Guidelines
The letter below signed by over 110 residents of the area was sent to Kerry County Council:
To: Mr Tom Sheehy, Senior Engineer, Kerry County Council, Mr Sean O’Sullivan, Senior Executive Engineer, Kerry County Council
Kilfenora 14/02/2021
Dear Mr Sheehy and Mr O’Sullivan,
We the residents of Kilfenora are writing to formally request an access point to the Tralee to Fenit Greenway in Kilfenora. There has been an overwhelming desire expressed by the people in the community to utilise this wonderful facility. We were told at the pre-planning meeting, and it was indicated as part of the manager’s report for the Part VIII planning application, that Kerry County Council intended to provide an access point to the Greenway at Kilfenora. However we have now been told that our official access point at this time is by the pump station in Fenit. To reach this access point will mean walking or cycling 2km on the busy and narrow main Fenit R558 Road. This will pose a serious safety issue for the residents of Kilfenora. Therefore we the undersigned householders in Kilfenora wish to express a huge sense of dismay that we will have no safe access to an amenity that runs right through our community and request that this is addressed before this section of the Greenway is opened.
Yours Sincerely,
[Signed by 110 Kilfenora Residents]Please note, anyone named in this email is over 18 and has given permission by text or by phonecall to do so.
Having planted smaller fruit and nut trees by the Connolly/Brendan’s Park entrance, some more large apple trees were planted recently (by small socially distanced pods) along the top of the bank.
Check back for some fruit in the coming years
Project supported by Kerry County Council’s Community Environment Action Fund.
Some before and after pics from today’s (socially distanced) clean up of the orchard carried out by the students of Tralee Youthreach & facilitated by Niamh from Transition Kerry. We will be having another planting session next month, get in touch if you want to get involved.
One apple left if anyone wants it 
To: Terry, Deirdre, Mikey, Jim, Sam, Johnny and Cathal
Subject: The Tralee-Fenit Greenway is crucial for the town. Make it happen for next summer.
Dear Councillors,
Alongside many communities around the country and around the world, we are currently in a state of crisis, and how we rise to this challenge will define our town for decades. Tralee has a proud and rich history and those who came before us made certain we rode the first waves of prosperity in a free and independent republic. It is now our collective responsibility to ensure we do not flounder in the backwash left from the current crisis.
It is often said that progress is not about taking big steps in the future, but that progress comes about by taking small steps right now. One small step in the right direction for Tralee would be to speed up the works on the Tralee-Fenit Greenway and make sure it is completed for June next year. The current estimated completion time is Autumn 2021, and we urge you to expedite the project and complete it before next summer for the following reasons:
Signed,
Brian Stephenson – NoteCloud and Learn from Leaders
Louis Byrne – Byrne’s Spar Stores & Apache Pizza Tralee
Susan Costello – Costello Pharmacy
Michael Higgins – Ardfert Quarry Products
Eoghan Ó Cathasaigh – Helen Casey Design & Associates
Dr Jenny Crushell and Dr Mary Glancy – Fairies Cross Medical Centre
David Leonard – The Glasshouse and Ugly Mug
Heather O’Sullivan – John Ross Jewellers
Jim Cantillon – Kellihers Hardware
Dick Boyle – The Grand Hotel
Sandra Rusk – Weardrobe Boutique
Ger Carmody – Ger Carmody Auctioneers
Anluan Dunne – Mountain Biking Kerry
Adrian O’Gara – Arfert Medical Centre
Brendan Culloty – Hugh Culloty
John Tuite – TLI Group
Billy Nolan – Billy Nolan & Hilsers Jewellers
Graham Kelliher – Surf ‘n Sail
John McCarthy – John Doughs & The Tech Company
David Moriarty – David Moriarty and Associates Architects
Michelle McCarthy – Patricks The Hair Company
Derek O’Sullivan – Crua Outdoors
Michael Moran – Ryle Menswear
Jonathan Boyle – Boyles Stoves and BioHeat Ireland
Danny Giles – DNG WH Giles
James McGrath – The Oyster Tavern
Rob Durran – Xintec
Matthew Leahy – Matt The Butcher
Dermot O’Sullivan – The Mall & Benners Hotel
Paul Stephenson – Sherry Fitzgerald Stephenson Crean
Adrian Benner – Benners Hardware Store
Sean Hussey – Sean Hussey Menswear
Gary O’Donnell – Baily’s Corner
Kevin Walsh – Spa Seafoods
John Reen – Murphy & Sheehy Insurances
Ciara Brosnan – Shindig
Keith Phelan – Kerry Cycling Campaign
Brian Hennebery – Henneberys Sports
Maurice Fitzgerald – Dan Fitzgeralds
Peter Moran – Tralee Dental and Implant Clinic
Nathan McDonnell – Ballyseedy Home & Garden
Paul Hanrahan – That’s Perfect
John Walsh – Walsh Brothers Shoes
Joe Cotter – Friends of the Tralee to Fenit Greenway
Brian O’Regan – Cadogan O’Regan Solicitors
Terry O’Connell – The Daily Grind
Jeremy Walsh – Jeremy Walsh Project Management
Ger Teahon – SalesSense International
Liam O’Mahony – Great Southern Trail Ltd
Bryan O’Keefe – Westend Bar & Restaurant
Colin Boyle – The Ashe Hotel & Manor West Hotel
Cormac Foley – Foley & Associates Solicitors
Ronan Hurley – The Roast House
Siobhán Murphy – Kerryman
