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Irish Times
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Minister for Health makes emergency intervention after Taoiseach's joke ripples through the House
The Taoiseach put on his 'I'm going to say something funny now' face, the one where he smirks to himself because he knows he is just about to knock 'em all dead with a hilarious one-liner. He folded his arms tightly around his chest, giving himself a happy hug in advance of what he was about to say. Danny Healy-Rae had just made an impassioned plea on behalf of publicans in the village of Killorglin, Co Kerry. Fourteen of them recently applied to the District Court for an exemption to stay open until 3am during Puck Fair , but the judge permitted them to serve until only 2am. Outrageous carry on. Danny Healy-Rae was incensed. READ MORE Puck Fair has been going on in the Kerry village for more than 400 years, he told the Dáil. 'It has survived many obstacles – bad times, good times and it even survived Joe Duffy's attack on the goat.' Just to be clear, Joe Duffy didn't physically attack the wild goat, which is captured and crowned King of Killorglin for the duration of the three-day festival. The recently retired broadcaster merely facilitated some very heated Liveline phone-ins about the welfare of the goat during its short stint in captivity. Having risen above many setbacks, Danny hopes the festival will survive the docking of an hour off pub closing time. The publicans are set to appeal to the Circuit Court. So Killorglin only gets to serve until 2am on two nights during Puck Fair in August, 'yet we have to listen constantly about requests here in Dublin to open Dublin until six in the morning', complained Danny. What they are saying above in Dublin is, 'they want to bring back the night'. Puck Fair is an event where people come to meet each other once a year, or maybe only once every three or four years, he said. It seems the reason gardaí objected to a 3am finish was pressure on resources. 'Are Garda resources under so much pressure that we can't afford an extra hour each night until three o'clock to maintain the tradition that we've had in Killorglin? 'Twas open all night, you know, one time, Taoiseach.' Then Danny looked directly across at the Government front bench and did his bit for Kerry tourism. 'And seeing as ye are there now, I am inviting ye all to Puck Fair – the Taoiseach, the Minister for Justice, the Chief Whip and yourself, Ceann Comhairle. Ye are all welcome to Puck.' Micheál Martin got giddy at the prospect of everyone being welcome to Puck in Kerry. But on the subject of extending drinking hours and granting exemptions, he seemed to be suggesting a somewhat dodgy solution. 'There were many times in Kerry, apparently, when there were many lock-ins,' he said, cryptically, his voice trailing off. Not that he'd know anything about the type of things which might have happened at wild Fianna Fáil functions in the days before green tea. Nor, one assumes, was he saying that the good publicans of Killorglin should take the law into their own hands by allowing after-hours drinking. Perish the thought, and with the Minister for Justice sitting right beside him. Anyway, Micheál was about to unleash his funny gag. He smiled to himself, folded his arms and focused on Danny, who was all ears. 'I'd say you've outdone Leo Varadkar in terms of nightlife and you're extolling the virtues of going the whole way, like the whole night long, like you know …' What was he on about? 'Going the whole way … the whole night long, like you know.' Where was he going with this? Chief Whip Mary Butler, seated directly behind the Taoiseach, looked a little puzzled. Bellowing Danny was momentarily silenced. The Minister for Health made an emergency intervention. 'What?' she hissed loudly from stage left. Jennifer Carroll McNeill is not a woman easily shocked, but like the rest of us, she was probably wondering where Micheál was headed with his meandering line about knowing the virtues of going the whole way for the whole night long. Could Mary Lou McDonald be about to enter the presidential race? Listen | 41:13 The Taoiseach, delighted with himself, was oblivious until he got that little nudge from her and, suddenly, he realised what he had been saying. He turned, stricken, and stuttered to Jennifer about going the whole way 'in terms of nightlife, like!' as his voice went up higher and his accent went full Cork. 'Jaysus,' he chuckled. 'Bí curamach anois!' Telling himself as Gaelige to be careful now. 'So the big issue is drinking 'til 2am. It's the first time it's ever been presented to me in the Dáil like this: that you actually want us to go to 3am,' he continued, but now being ultra careful. 'Well, not me,' he hastily added. No. Not that anyone was thinking that. We were still back with Varadkar making a night of it. 'Until 6am, actually,' observed Sinn Féin's Aengus Ó Snodaigh. Danny was on his feet and roaring again. The Taoiseach was trying to talk. It was like closing time at Puck Fair. 'Taoiseach, your time is up,' called landlady Verona Murphy, or the Ceann Comhairle as she is also known, banging her bell and telling Danny to sit down. Things were getting a bit rowdy. Have they no homes to go to? 'Look it,' said Micheál, ignoring landlady Verona who was doing her best to maintain an orderly house and addressing Danny. 'I've the Minister for Justice alongside of me. He's heard your pleas.' Pleas to come down to Killorglin for the festival or try to do something to make sure the publicans get their extra hour when their appeal is heard? Jim O'Callaghan nodded away. Although it is most unlikely that Senior Counsel Jim is going to hotfoot it down to Killarney or Tralee Circuit Court any day soon to sort out a late exemption. 'He knows what the place is like,' murmured Danny, mysteriously. The Taoiseach had some good news for him about the Minister. 'He's undertaken to go down to the Puck Fair, okay?' We didn't see Jim being consulted on this, but he looked happy enough. 'I will see what I can do to attend as well, but I may not be around at that time,' added Micheál, deftly mapping his escape route. As it turns out, O'Callaghan has strong family links to the Kingdom and is very proud of his Kerry connections. His father, Jerry, came from Callaghans Cross just outside Castleisland. This is the sort of fact Danny Healy-Rae would most certainly know. Although nobody knows if Big Jim or Danny will be 'going the whole way – like, the whole night long' at Puck Fair until three in the morning this year. That's for the court to decide.
Irish Independent
10-07-2025
- Irish Independent
Judge in Kerry says ‘Puck Fair is not all about drink' as he reduces drinking hours at famous festival
Breaking | The decision is to be appealed to the Circuit Court by the 14 publicans who had applied for 3am exemption Kerryman Kerry District Court Judge David Waters has refused an exemption until 3am for pubs in Killorglin during Puck Fair ending a tradition that has been ongoing since the 1970s. The exemption application for 14 pubs came before Killorglin District Court sitting in Cahersiveen this week – seeking a 3am exemption for two of the three dates of the festival's duration; August 10 until 12 this year.
Irish Independent
29-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
From the Kerry archives, June 30, 2000: A Sonny Knowles riot, King Puck statue & farewell to Mercy Sisters
A near riot breaks out at Sonny Knowles concert Sonnuy Knowles fans are still recovering from the shock of the near riot which broke out in the John Mitchel's clubhouse on Saturday night and which led to seven people being hospitalised. Fights broke out at the end of the concert while a local performer was on stage. Eye witnesses said that a group of young people, both men and women, suddenly turned on each other and began throwing bottles, ash trays and anything else they could find. Gardaí made one arrest on the night but witnesses said there was a core group of at least 15 people directly involved in the fighting. The incident, which occurred after Sonny Knowles had left the stage, was particularly shocking for the large number of middle aged, and elderly people who had expected an enjoyable night out. John Mitchels Chairman Denis Boyle said the club was sorry for anyone who was upset on the night. But he said the night was a success up to the point when fighting broke out. "The night was a success as far as we are concerned and we are going to be holding other nights for people in the locality. There are people who are prisoners in their own homes, so our price structure was right for them with £3 tickets,' Mr Boyle said. "We looked after people. We got taxis for them and we drove older people home and they were delighted. They didn't know what happened as it was only later on," the added. One woman in her fifties, who was caught up in the middle of the fighting with her friends, said it was the most 'terrifying experience that I have ever had.' "A large group of people just started fighting at the end of the concert, a disaster at the end of a lovely evening. It could have been a lot worse because of the age group alone. The majority of people were from 40 years old to 80 years old. For people of that age to be trampled is just not on,' she said. "My friend got a belt of an ashtray. Her her was pulled and her face was burned by the ashes. Another friend got hit by a bottle when she was coming out of the toilet and had to go to the hospital,' she said. The eyewitness said she was too scared to leave the building, even when the fight died down, in case she came across the aggressors. "There should have been more security, without a doubt, in such a packed hall,' she said. "At the moment, I am frightened to go out and I don't I will ever put my foot in John Mitchel's again,' she said. Killorglin to cast King Puck in bronze for millennium Killorglin's annual Puck Fair – which attracts huge numbers of tourists to the town every year – is to be greatly enhanced with the erection of a £32,000 bronze sculpture of King Puck in the town. The Killorglin Millennium committee applied to the government for funding for the statue under the national millennium project. But when the submission was not successful, the committee decided to go ahead with the plans to erect the bronze statue, which is one and a half times the size of a real goat. Valentia Island native Alan Ryan Hall – famous for his statues of Charlie Chaplin, and Charles, de Gaulle in, other areas of South Kerry – has been commissioned to sculpt the statue. According to Jacinta Browne, chairperson of the committee overseeing the project, the sculpture is expected to begin construction in the autumn. "Located as it is on the Ring of Kerry, this win be an emblem for the town when it is done. But it will take a lot of work and a lot of fundraising will have to be carried out," she said. Wonderful plans have been assembled .and the statue will be located on a huge boulder in front of the town which has made him King," she added. Ms Browne said that the idea was borne out of local people's views and aspirations for the town for the millennium year. A group was set up with the idea of coming up with a suitable project for the town and the result is the statue of King Puck. "We have an enthusiastic group of people behind us," Ms Browne said, "but we need a lot of money for the project. We have some promises of money and some has been collected to date but there has been no government money allocated so there is a lot to be collected still." She appealed to people to assist in the funding of what will be a landmark project for the town. She added that the visual impact of the sculpture will be stunning with the river, bridge and town as a backdrop, the McGillycuddy Reeks to the south and the Sliabh Mish mountains to the north of it. "As the sculpture stands at the gateway to South Kerry, it will enhance not only Killorglin, but the rest of the region as a place to be seen and explored," she said. The first main part of the fundraising will take place on August 4 at the Fishery restaurant when a Lord Mayor will be elected for the town. Three local men – Paudie Cronin, Brendan Moriarty and Kevin Goggin – will compete for the honour. A number of other fundraising events have been organised including the Flag Day, which will take place over the August Bank Holiday weekend. Puck Fair itself which runs from August 10 12 will incorporate a number of fundraising events, all which aim to come up with the money for the unique project for Killorglin. Last Mercy Sister Says Farewell An important chapter in the history of Ballybunion was brought to a close this week when the last Mercy Sister attached to St Joseph's primary school, Sister Maire NI Dhúbhda, said farewell to her former pupils and teaching colleagues. The Mercy Sisters have been associated with teaching the young people of Ballybunion both in St Joseph's primary school and secondary school since 1888, but the nuns announced last year that due to falling vocations, they would be closing their Ballybunion convent. Castlegregory born Sr Maire, who was principal of St Joseph's for eight years, was the last link between the Mercy Order and the school and as she told The Kerryman, it was a very emotional day for her. "The nuns have been gone from Ballybunion since last August and now that I have resigned as principal, the last link has been severed. But I would like to think that the Mercy ethos in the school lives on," she said. "Obviously it's a sad day but I have some lovely memories to keep me going. I always found it a very friendly school and I settled in here very quickly and made a lot of memories over the years.' The convent building at the rear of the school has been sold, but the school itself will remain open, with 130 pupils. Joan Lyons, the first lay teacher who was appointed at the school in 1967 has been appointed principal.
Extra.ie
21-06-2025
- Extra.ie
The Weekend Run - A scenic Kingdom tour and a Ducati that has it all
We started this ride-out from Tralee and stopped at a little coffee shop in Killorglan, but I'll come back to that shortly. Killorglan is home to the annual Puck Fair, Ireland's oldest street festival. Here's how it goes: a goat handler goes into the mountains to catch a male feral goat. The Goat is brought to the town square, where the Queen of the Fair, a young girl from a local primary school, crowns him the King of Puck Fair. In years past, the King Goat was placed in a cage on top of high scaffolding in the town square for three days of festivities. Nowadays, he is only placed in the cage for three hours and then returned to the mountains feeling somewhat chuffed. King Puck takes pride of place at the entrance to Killorglan. Pic: Supplied Back to the coffee shop. While my biker pal, Ger, and I were debating the best route to Caragh Lake, a very friendly local lad told us about a shortcut on a back road from the town to the lake. He didn't mention the condition of the road surface, which had potholes from hell. If anyone had seen us weaving from left to right to avoid the potholes, they would have thought we were inebriated. However, the road suddenly opened up, and Macgillycuddy's Reeks came into view. The rough ride was all worth it once we arrived at the lake. This vast expanse of water was considerably larger than I had imagined. The road suddenly opened up, and Macgillycuddy's Reeks came into view. Pic: Supplied As it was a rare sunny day in Kerry, the water glistened like a blue gem in the sunlight. It is a freshwater lake formed when the River Caragh was dammed and is also renowned for excellent salmon fishing. The roads around the lake are incredibly narrow and winding, which adds to the challenge and excitement of the ride. You need to be attentive, however, as there are many spots where you'll have to pull over to let oncoming cars pass. As it was a rare sunny day in Kerry. Pic: Supplied Remember, we were on motorbikes; I don't know how two cars would pass each other. This certainly slows down the pace, but it also allows you time to take in the magnificent scenery. The Caragh Lake motorcycle ride would almost take your breath away. It is much larger than it seems, and the views are stunning, with only a handful of houses around it. It is a freshwater lake formed when the River Caragh was dammed and is also renowned for excellent salmon fishing. Pic: Supplied The lake is designated a Special Area of Conservation because the rare Kerry Slug was discovered there. Since the 1970s, there have been very strict building regulations, so the handful of houses on the side of the lake can sell for well in excess of €1m. Strict building regulations mean that the houses surrounding the lake can sell for well in excess of €1m. Pic: Supplied At points, the road runs parallel and only a few feet from the lake itself. Caragh would truly rival any of the famous Swiss lakes and, in my opinion, beat them hands down with the proximity of the road to the lake. We met very few cars around the lake, and in fact, we only saw three people walking on the road. How this gem has remained largely unknown and unused remains a mystery to me. How this gem has remained largely unknown remains a mystery. Pic: Supplied As you finish the circle of the lake, you are met with a beautiful stone bridge under which runs the River Caragh, which feeds the lake. This area is tranquil and really beautiful. I've known the lake was there for years, but I only once visited it by car, and I didn't do the circuit of the lake, much to my regret. However, now that I know of its magnificence, I'll be back. The Caragh Lake deserves appreciation. Pic: Supplied Overall, it was a unique and memorable ride, perfect for those who enjoy a more intimate and challenging road experience. The Caragh Lake deserves to be ridden around on a motorbike because, in my opinion, a car ride won't do it justice. Click this link to the Detecht map for route of this run. Remember, when you open the map, enlarge it to see the details. Charles Bayly Franklin, a quiet Dubliner, was born on Whitworth Road, Drumcondra, in 1880 and educated at St Andrew's College, then at St. Stephen's Green. He qualified as an electrical engineer and worked for Rathmines Electrical Works from 1901. Charles Bayly Franklin. Pic: Supplied Charles Franklin's name and place in history are virtually unknown. And yet he has left a motoring legacy that unquestionably places him at the very pinnacle of motorcycle sport, engine design and frame development. Charles was elected a member of the Motorcycle Union of Ireland in 1904. The Chairman, John Boyd Dunlop, inventor of the pneumatic tyre, had a factory located off Aungier Street in Dublin. He subsequently became a member of the Dublin & District Motor Cycle Club in 1907. He competed on a variety of machines; his first recorded appearance took place in September 1903 at a reliability trial, Dublin to Portlaoise return, on an FN with a heady output of 2.75 bhp. Charles Bayly Franklin was a member of the Dublin & District Motor Cycle Club in 1907. Pic: Supplied His reputation grew here and in England as the renowned motorcycle star of his day. His results were such that he was selected for the British Team for international competitions. Franklin became the first Irishman to compete in an international motorcycle competition, being chosen on the three-man Great British team in the International Cup of 1905, a significant achievement for the Dubliner. Charles and his two team members, brothers Charlie and Harry Collier, the Auto Cycle Club's Freddie Straight and their manager, the Marquis de Mouzilly de St. Mars, came up with the formula for a tourist trophy race meeting – the venue, the now legendary Isle of Man, where the first race took place on 27th May 1907, with Charles Collier the winner, Franklin having to withdraw his entry due to pressure of business. Between 1906 and 1908, he met Harry Wells, an American ex-cycle racer. The significance of this meeting lay in the fact that Wells was a close friend of George Hendee, who owned a bicycle business in Springfield, Massachusetts, known as the Hendee Manufacturing Company Limited. This company transitioned into motorcycle manufacturing under the name Indian in 1901. Charles bought his first Indian in 1910, a twin-cylinder, five-hp model, the same year he became the Irish importer of Indian motorcycles. This also left him free to compete in many competitions, with his prime focus being the 1911 TT. The 1911 Indian Race Team was formidable, achieving a clean sweep in the Senior TT, where they secured the first three places. Franklin came second. In 1912, he became the first rider in the world to cover 300 miles in less than 300 minutes. In 1914, the Hendee Manufacturing Company opened a retail depot in Dublin under his management. It subsequently opened a retail and service business at 10 Wicklow Street in May 1915 – unfortunately, it wasn't great timing, as Europe and Ireland were in turmoil. At this stage, it cannot be overstated how Charles B. Franklin was seen in Irish and world motorcycling. This quiet man, whose technical knowledge was respected in equal terms as his forensic preparation and will to win, had by now effectively gained Charles' legendary status within motorcycling racing circles. A combination of the 1916 Rising, along with new trade taxes on imported vehicles, including motorcycles, led to the closure of his shop on Wicklow Street. Keen not to lose Franklin, Hendee offered him a job in Indian's design department in Springfield, Massachusetts. He joined the Indian Motorcycle Company in 1916. By 1919, he was the head engineer. Indian was in trouble, having lost significant ground to Harley-Davidson during the War years. Franklin's 600cc Scout was given the production green light in 1919. Pic: Supplied Franklin's next motorcycle would place Indian forever in the hearts of motorcyclists. His 600cc Scout was given the production green light in 1919 and was launched at the National Motorcycle Show in Chicago. It was an immediate success. Indian's most famous Scout bore the engine number 50R627. It was bought by Burt Munro, a 21-year-old, who paid £120. Munro himself became an Indian legend as he kept that bike for over 55 years. The Anthony Hopkins film, The World's Fastest Indian, tells the tale wonderfully. Franklin went on to design a larger version of the Scout, the Chief, which was enlarged to 1,000cc. Its advanced technical offerings and appearance in 1922 received a similar warm welcome. In 1923, the Big Chief was introduced to the range, featuring a 1,200cc capacity. The Irishman's legacy was assured. Charles Franklin died on October 23rd, 1932 – he was 52 years old. For all his fame, there is little documentation or records of this genuine Irish Genius who effectively saved the Indian Motorcycle Company from extinction. What we do know from Tony Toner, co-author of this article, is that this legend of motorcycle engineering and racing is buried in an unmarked grave in Oak Grove Cemetery in Springfield, Massachusetts. Tony Toner points at Charles Franklin's grave, which is referenced only by the number 9814. Pic: Supplied Tony and some friends are actively involved in attempting to rectify this glaring void in the contribution and memory of Charles Franklin on both sides of the Atlantic. He has contacted relevant interested parties to ensure that one of the world's first actual motorcyclists will be honoured appropriately, both here in Ireland and at his final resting place. To find out more, you can contact Tony at tonydrivetoner@ The Ducati Multistrada V2S is a real biker's bike. It boasts all the heritage of Ducati, offering a smooth, comfortable, and responsive ride that will take you anywhere. As Ducati say on their website: 'It was conceived to combine performance, touring capability and ease of use.' Ducati Multistrada V2, a real biker's bike! Pic: Supplied When I heard I was riding a Ducati, I wasn't over the moon as I felt Ducati only made speedsters, and that's not my thing. But boy was I wrong – and right. Yes, the V2S is quick, just like any other Ducati, yet it has everything you need for commuting and weekend ride-outs. First things first. When you start it, it has that unique Ducati ping-pong or double kick. It's unnerving if you've only ridden Japanese bikes, but it's a feature of Ducati engines for as long as I can remember. It also features five different driving modes: Sport, Touring, Urban, Enduro, and Wet. It comes standard with cruise control, traction control, and an anti-lock braking system (ABS). You can adjust the suspension settings to suit your riding style. It has more features than I would ever need. The Ducati Multistrada V2 features five different driving modes: Sport, Touring, Urban, Enduro, and Wet. Pic: Supplied So now I'm in my favourite car park – the M50 – and lo and behold, traffic is light, just like the V2S. For a bike with so much tech and such a powerful engine, it feels almost feather-like to ride. Its engine at 54.4 KG is the lightest Ducati twin-cylinder ever produced. Another interesting fact is that every Ducati engine is built by hand, not by a Robot. That might explain how Ducati can offer a 4-year warranty on the V2. You bring it in for a massage from Declan in Ducati, and the next service is at an incredible 32,000 Klicks. That service interval shouts we have total confidence in our V2s. On the M50, the streamlined body and windscreen are working well to minimise wind drag and buffeting. When you tickle the throttle, it wants to take off, and this is where I believe it is best suited to an experienced rider. It has the power of every Ducati and needs a skilled hand on the handlebars. That said, it is a magnificent machine to ride, with a seat that provides maximum comfort and a riding position that makes me feel I'm in complete control. The guttural sound of the engine when you accelerate says Ducati. The Multistrada V2S starts at €19,000. Pic: Supplied But, I hear you say, 'How will it handle on my commute home?' and the answer is 'beautifully'. I took it into my favourite narrow, winding, housing estate with roundabouts, and I couldn't fault it at all. I left Declan in Ducati Dublin with a bit of trepidation, but I returned as a huge fan of this magnificent machine and a Ducati convert. The Multistrada V2S starts at €19,000, which, in my opinion, for such a versatile bike whose engine is built by hand and comes with a 4-year warranty, is not a lot of money. Check it out on YouTube here. GT stands for Grand Tour, and it is what Damian is known for in the motorcycle world. Damian epitomises everything good about bikers. He gives of his time freely and devotes his biking life to raising much-needed funds for charities such as Pieta House and Jigsaw. Since 2022, he has raised over €200k for really deserving charities. Damian Sheridan epitomises everything good about bikers. Pic: Supplied Damian says: 'If you're thinking of organising a charity event, know what you're getting yourself in for. You soon become Marmite; people will either like you or hate you. Have a thick skin, the keyboard warriors will come out. 'Always be transparent when it comes to fundraising. People will always wonder what you're getting out of it. For me, it's just the buzz of bringing bikers together and getting them back safely.' Long may GT continue to ride and do what he does brilliantly. I was about 18 when I first got a taste for motorcycles. I was introduced by an old friend, Brendan, and used to go everywhere on the back of his Honda BAJA XLR250. I was 20. However, I only had it for a short while. I was off bikes for 22 years before getting back on one in June 2020. The first bike I bought was a 16-valve Suzuki Bandit 400 Slingshot back in the day. All black. No, I was on a provisional car licence for way too long. When I did the car test, the rules had changed. So, I was young and foolish back then. I sat my test in 2022. No, not the first time, I got a loan of a donor bike from an instructor. I just couldn't get used to it an hour before the test. As I was working in the healthcare sector, I retook a test three weeks later and passed it on my 2015 BMW F800R. It has to be the Grand Tour 2025 (GT25). Forty bikers from all over Ireland and one lady from the UK are travelling around Ireland for three days, everyone getting on so well and not one incident to report. Yes, a nasty one in January 2024, a driver pulled out in front of me. I crashed into the side of him, got flung over the other side of the road and then hit by a truck. I got a way lucky, snapped the tibia and split the knee in half. In fairness to the other party, he was great and went to the Gardaí himself, admitted liability himself and came to see me in the hospital — two people in the wrong place at the wrong time. I have been doing events since 2022 for various non-profits, including Shed4Bikers, as well as charities such as Pieta and Jigsaw. Most are one-day events, except for the GTs. Also I do an end-of-summer Carlingford Run from Dublin, which always attracts big numbers, including 350 at last year's. Do it; don't think twice. Make sure to do it properly and get the proper training. Eric Dolton has to be one of the best in Ireland. Get a machine you're comfortable with and go to the right spins to suit you. I've often seen inexperienced drivers get caught up in the moment of the spin, trying to keep up with the more experienced driver. It's going to end badly at some stage. Drive at your own pace. With the support of those who get on board and corporate sponsors, I have raised nearly €200,000 since 2022. We all enjoy the thrill of the ride or being in a group spin. Do it safely; if you want to go mad, consider a track day at Mondello. Track days are a lot cheaper than a funeral.
