Despite objections from environmentalists, councillors have voted unanimously in favour of a contentious new access road to Killarney National Park.

Sections of the main Cork to Tralee road are in dire need of maintenance, especially between Killarney and Ballyvourney, it has been claimed.

A road in Kenmare, Co Kerry, is to be dedicated to ex-Fine Gael TD and county councillor Pat O’Connor-Scarteen, a native of the area.

A Kerry town’s new bypass road has been named in honour of a political rival of the late Jackie Healy-Rae.

A call has been made for consultation with landowners and other stakeholders impacted by a new 28km walking/cycling trail along one of the country’s top lakeland districts.

"Where would you be without a bell on your bike?" Apparently on the growing number of greenways and shared cycling/walking paths.

A local authority is taking a lead in trying to end the "scourge" of many church-goers being intimidated by some political parties taking up annual cash collections.

The Kerry region, a jewel in the crown of Irish tourism, will be "devastated" by littering following the closure of a landfill site, it has been claimed.

Long-demanded improvements to dangerous sections of the Mallow to Killarney road are being further delayed due to a lack of funding.

Despite strong warnings that Kerry’s road network will deteriorate further, funding for the county council’s 2014 roadworks programme has been slashed by 34%.

Traditional visitor haven Kerry is faced with a major challenge to reach the top of the tourism ratings.

A local authority yesterday decided to close its landfill from the end of 2014 due to the increasing amount of waste being exported — but retained the option to reopen the facility in the coming years.

A local authority yesterday called for the introduction of penalty points for people who throw litter out of vehicles.

A Fine Gael and a Labour councillor yesterday broke ranks by opposing a motion calling for support for gay marriage at a meeting of Kerry County Council.

A higher-than-expected number of Kerry people have paid the controversial household charge, which means cuts in government funding for local services will not be as severe as had been feared.

With two Kerry constituencies merging and the loss of one seat, all eyes will be on the fallen Fianna Fáil, writes Donal Hickey

ABOUT 100 schools in Kerry could lose teachers because of changes in the pupil-teacher ratio, it was claimed yesterday.

PARTS of Kerry’s 4,713km road network are in danger of being washed away by floods, it has been claimed.

RATHER than having fines imposed on them, offenders caught dumping illegally should be made clean up the mess they create.

CAMERAS secretly placed at illegal dumping blackspots in Kerry are already catching culprits in the act.

A STUNNING poll-topping triumph by first-time Fine Gael candidate Brendan Griffin was the big story of the general election in the key Kerry South constituency, but his success came at the expense of his party colleague Tom Sheahan who was gutted to lose his seat.

THE intriguing battleground that is the Kerry South constituency is likely go right down to the wire but it looks as if the death knell could be about to sound for two of the country’s high-profile political dynasties.

AS election candidates in Kerry pick up the pieces and count the cost of posters torn from poles during yesterday’s violent gusts of wind, image-conscious Killarney has declared all-out war on public displays of election literature.

THE Fine Gael party in Kerry South is expected to adopt a two-candidate strategy for the next election when it holds a convention in Killarney tonight.

A KILLARNEY councillor whose sons are in the jarvey business, was forced to leave a local town council meeting, under the ethics in public office regulations.

DESPITE concerns that the commercial lifeblood is being sucked out of the centre of Killarney, a developing shopping complex on the outskirts of the town is to hold onto its retail zoning.

A REQUEST from the Presentation Sisters in Killarney to have a portion of their lands zoned for town centre facilities has been refused by the local town council.

A NEW island has been created at one of Kerry’s blue flag beaches, after the sea breached sand dunes during the weekend.

TEST results on the country’s water supplies indicate that 99% are compliant with standards relating to the presence of lead.

A €10 MILLION programme to improve drinking water quality in Kerry should be completed by the end of next year, Kerry County Council’s director of water services, Oliver Ring, has announced.

A CONTINUING crackdown was pledged yesterday on any likely hooliganism and illegal camping this summer on Kerry beaches.

YOUNG people in Kerry need facilities where they can relax and enjoy themselves without alcohol.

FARMERS living close to the lake which provides most of Kerry’s drinking water are to be urged to join a scheme to protect it from contamination.

ONE man’s campaign to save a 200-year-old oak tree in Killarney has failed.

IT is almost four years since I called on the then health boards and the Government to make repayments to the long-stay residents of nursing homes.

KILLARNEY Town Council manager Tom Curran has expressed “grave reservations” about the council supporting a proposal for a theatre cum arts centre for the town.

MAJOR work on the busiest street in Killarney in the run-up to Christmas could lead to serious disruption, traders claimed yesterday.

RECENTLY, on a journey from Killarney to Waterford, I was astonished at the proliferation of ragwort growing on the roadsides.

ANOTHER month has passed and another Government commitment has been broken.

THE medical profession and sporting/voluntary bodies believe that ready access to a defibrillator can mean the difference between life and death.

MOVES have got under way to promote the monastic island of Innisfallen, in the Killarney Lakes, as a bigger tourist attraction.

FINE GAEL will make an approach to former GAA president Sean Kelly to stand as a candidate shortly after its Árd Fheis next weekend.

A TOP hotel and entertainment complex has been given town centre zoning - even though it is located a mile from the town.