I am unsure what area to selct these comments for as they apply to so many differnt areas, I have included them here briefly nonetheless. In Ballylongford which was the 8th largest town by population in Kerry 100 years ago with a bigger town population than Ballybunion, It had 4 bakeries in the last century, shops of all kinds, Sullivans stores and the mill which employed many. Yet the town has since become a village and the way it has been neglected it will probably become a townland.
We have lost vital services here in the last decade such as our post office and garda station. The main road to Listowel/Tralee is abysmal. The water facilities here have not been utilised for leisure in any way which is a shame. There should also be some form of cheap transportation between here and Clare as Kilrush is in clear view from Carrigg island and Moneypoint is a stones throw from the village. If there was a bridge they would be our nearest neighbours.
Ballylongford lacks industry and employment (a factory or business park of some form) where there should be initiatives to set up in these areas. As jobs create prosperity among those employed such as young men and women who would then not have to leave their native home to search for work.
The Ballyline river and the creek badly need to be dredged and the their should be some form of closable dam like gate that can open for boats but close when need to be out in the Saleen direction to stop flooding when high tides and wind as the village has been battered by storms and rising water levels. Also a field/area could be purchased in the Ballyline and a lagoon could be created to stop the river flowing down when high tides are expected hence the river could be diverted to this lagoon to help ease flooding.
I have many other concerns such as the preservation and cultural and tourism aspects of this historical area which have been under developed and under sold for tourism. There is such history here such as the iconic Lislaughtin abbey, Carrigafoyle Castle and Church. The history of this republican town in the war of indepence and with it being the birthplace of the O'Rahilly.
Lord Kitchener was baptised in Aghavlin here and Aghavillin graveyard and church is a disgrace as the council have let some of it collapse under ivy and the church and graves at the back have been impassable to see or go to for the last decade.
There has been very little social housing built here in the last 30 years bar 8 houses 15 years ago in Radharc na habhann and the 6/7 under construction currently in Rusheen. The village needs more social housing bulit as younger peole and adults are now taking house in Tralee,Listowel and even Killarney. Thus there is less of the next generation as seen by the dwindling numbers enrolling in the primary school here.
More displays of Culture and arts and entertainment are needed here for tourists in the village highlighting the past, Lislaughtin and Carrigafoyle, even Tarbert have such a buliding sort of a museum like the Bridewell. As Ballylongford really is a special place with characters galore. Many of the past ones have been immortalised in poetry bythe legendary recently deceased Brendan Kennelly who was always a proud Ballylonford man.
Carrigg Island is a really special place it is like our national park except it is one hundred percent natural. The fuana and wildlife here is second to none its wetlands are unique. Even the rare double crested cormorrant was sighted here during the last year only the second such sighting ever in Ireland. The Napoleonic battery here is badly neglected and if not looked after quickly it will go in to a state of disrepair and ruin. The island also has the ruins of a 6th century monastery and the island was also the last place the Collen bawn stayed before here murder 202 years ago. It is the only true island remaining in North Kerry however it is suffering badly from coatal errosion and the cliffs and headlands are being eaten up by the sea also lots of acres have been lost in the last decade to the sea and it is a shame to see this happen to this unique place. The bridge and gravel roads in to the island are often inasseble due to high tides with the bridge last been raised circa 1993 but it was not raised high enough.
O'Rahilly park the GAA pitch is a special place here in the village and Ballylongford is one of only four towns to have hosted Kerry in Championship matches (along with Killarney, Tralee and Listowel). It is the pitch with the third largest capactity in Kerry behind Fitzgerald Stadium and Austin Stack Park. Yet it has been a long time since a big match has been played here in North Kerry. It would be an ideal venue for outdoor concerts and the arts. As it has great facilities and a capacity of circa 5,000.
As you can see North Kerry has not recived much help in the last few decades and the once grrat town of Ballylongford in particular where Saleen Pier was once a busy harbour and O'Rahillys was recorded as being busier than any shop in Tralee or Killarney in the early 1900s. In the 1940s the town was thronged an night due to all the emplotyment available locally and the soldiers at Fort shannon during the second world war.
As you can see i have covered many different areas here and i could go in to further detail if you please, but the main point is Ballylondford and North Kerry has been neglected in so many different areas and the coucil need to rectify this.