Tralee thread

cms88

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120590246#Comment_120590246

Just a few examples from the past. A few years ago they had a big announcement about, i think it was Amazon , working from home jobs. Made out they more or less single handedly brought all these jobs to Tralee etc What wasn't said was it was Amazon who went to them and every other Chamber about these jobs. When it turn out the jobs actually weren't anything like the Chamber made out and no one applied they just pretended like it didn't happen.

The ol Dunnes in the Mall before Elverys moved in. They failed time and time again to get anyone in there and then took credit for Elverys moving in there despite the fact they had been in the Mall for years.

There's many other examples.

g1983d

I kind if agree with you, those amazon jobs were a work from home gig before everyone was working from home. I would say that everyone involved in the chamber since the is new and I feel they are doing a better job.

The dunnes thing I'm not sure they could do much about, they didn't own it, they are not estate agents and they don't run businesses and I don't think dunnes particularly wanted anyone in it like so many of their other old stores around ireland.

All in all I see your point but think tralee chamber 2.0 is doing an ok job with what they have

manoverboards

They are a business membership organisation, so no surprise if their main objective is promoting their member's businesses, there could be a business in town doing something really progressive but if they are a not a member they get no recognition/promotion.

It's is totally understandable, if I am a business who pays fees to the group, how happy am I going to be if the group are promoting the great stuff that my competitors are doing for the town.

bobdcow

late to the party but...i noticed Abra being closed and asked the caretaker over the weekend - he said they were gutting the place out and it was closed down. It's a pity and hopefully they could re open somewhere.

cms88

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120597968#Comment_120597968

Well in the past from business owers i know they said they never did that. You only heard from them when it was time to renew membership.

cms88

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120598644#Comment_120598644

I walked by on Friday and it looked as if it was closed. No opening hours signs up or anything.

lordleitrim

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120598644#Comment_120598644

Maybe it's a sign of something bigger where the landlord chose not to let Abra renew the lease as it might be looking to do something with the entire centre? I'm pretty certain all the other units apart from the shoe repair place (which i believe is the only original tenant left in the place) are just on temporary leases and can be terminated fairly quickly.

Hard to know as the place has been stuck in a stalemate for decades...

phormium

Is it big enough for an M&S if you gutted it? 😁 No space for deliveries though really.

g1983d

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120599084#Comment_120599084

I'd say like any organisation you get out what you put in, aside from the money of course :-) that only goes in

All joking aside, I think paying membership is one thing but then being involved in working groups or committees or whatever they do is where the value comes.

I know the place I work is involved in a national grouo and like that they membership but if theu didn't involve themselves in the working groups there would be no value

g1983d

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120599944#Comment_120599944

That would be nice to see something decent going in there but hard to see as there's very store frontage to make a store like m&s stand out

Here's hoping though

xxyyzz

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120589071#Comment_120589071

yeah they will run the food court but it will have stalls which food vendors can rent. I've heard a fancy Argentinian barbecue joint, Wood fired pizzas and various others will be moving in. There will be a stage for musical events also. From what I've heard it could be great.

as_mo_bhosca

Just looking at the food festival website. Tokens for the food trail are €20 for six. Food trail items can be purchased for €3.

Why would anyone buy the tokens? €18 of food for €20!

Is it just me? We do have a newborn, but I didn't think I was that sleep deprived!

phormium

Depends on whether or not you can pay for them or must use the tokens, last time I was at Dingle Food Fair you had to use a token for the taste trail things and the extra couple of quid for the book was the contribution to run the thing I gathered. If the places let you just pay cash/card of €3 then yes it would be cheaper to do it that way but if limited to using tokens then no option!

Can't see them refusing the cash mind you 😊 It does give the impression from the wording that it's either option!

eusap

I asked on FB, the taste trail is 6 tokens for €20, 6x€3 tokens and €2 goes to the event organizers to fund the next event. I really don't know why they put the €3 thing on the poster. As far as i know like other food festivals the Food trail will only accept tokens and no cash.

But it does look like it will be a great event and great to have in the town, so the €2 is well spent (just confusing)

as_mo_bhosca

I agree the €2 is good, but no where on its website and fliers does it say what it's for! One posy on Instagram explains it. Really does not incentivise anyone to buy the tokens if you can just pay cash.

tfer

Planning on going to the food festival today, did any of ye go yesterday ? any tips or recommendations

phormium

I went yesterday and it was excellent really, bring plenty money if you intend buying! I know everything especially ingredients have become so expensive but it makes buying a lot of different bits prohibitive, well of course it doesn't if you have plenty money but you know what I mean.

I didn't buy the tokens but did buy two taste trail samplers for cash which for €6 were excellent value, I am going back again today for the same for my lunch :) As comparison chips and curry sc in square were €6 too, my pasta and tiramisu were far better value.

Attended a demo in the square, very good too, although and I may be showing my age I thought the volume of the singer there was way too much, she could have been easily heard even if it was turned down a bit, it was like being in a noisy pub, had to shout to talk to people I met there. Weather was beautiful, it makes all the difference!

Heading in again now in a few minutes to get my lunch and maybe a sweet treat for afters, I fancy a macaron today! Hopefully weather picks up a bit today.

As for tips, feed everyone before you go, reduces the temptation to buy loads of food!

barryribs

I went down yesterday, didn't think it was too expensive but I only tried the taste traile samplers in a couple of places. I've been meaning to get into Muerta since its gone into Matt the butchers and was head and shoulders above everything else. Great set up on the island of geese, but I found the square a bit loud too, especially since the music was right in front of the pub.

tfer

Thanks very much for your reply, great info there. Looking forward to it now

Igotadose

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120623333#Comment_120623333

There's a place in Tralee named "Dead?"

What do they serve?

barryribs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120623344#Comment_120623344

Mexican BBQ, have got it a few times during covid and it was very good

https://www.facebook.com/muerte.bbq/

Ciarrai76

Posting again in the hopes of someone being able to help!

Would anyone be able to recommend a roofer? I'm having no luck getting quotes off guys. 3 different guys came out recently and they haveore or less ghosted us now. We didn't even get the quote off them! So bizarre as they seemed very knowledgeable and had a good idea of how to help. I'm worn out chasing trades people!

cms88

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120615589#Comment_120615589

Personally i wasn't too impressed with the whole token thing. Went to get and asked a few questions about where to use them and were just told it's online. Asked about how you'd pay otherwise and was pretty much told it wasn;t his problem. Bearing in mind this was one of the people actually running it.

phormium

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120625882#Comment_120625882

In fairness the list of places is online and assuming you had a phone then it's easy look up, otherwise I don't know if they actually had flyers with them all listed, unlikely though these days when everyone has a phone! There were a lot of participants so could hardly be calling them out to you when you asked, not practical really. For Dingle or Tralee food festival I would always have looked up the participants and their offerings beforehand and noted the ones I was interested in otherwise you could miss the tasty bits you really wanted if you just used first places you met.

While the tone of the response you got doesn't sound right the answers to one is above and to the second one well you pay with cash/card like you'd pay for anything! Dingle got rid, or have tried anyway, of the cash/card option as then people are not paying the contribution towards running the Festival. I like that option as while I might buy a batch of tokens what if I really want the Taste Trail offering in another place and I have used up my book of tokens, I'm not going to buy another book just for one token, it's limiting.

When going to Dingle FF I actually print off the Taste Trail offerings days in advance, pick the ones I want and plot my route accordingly 😁 You could miss a load of the best stuff if you just go at it randomly.

cms88

So Abra is gone. Unit for sale now as well. Hard to see what could go in there outside of another food business, as with the kitchen etc it's actually not that big of a unit.

lordleitrim

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120629883#Comment_120629883

I presume the seating area upstairs goes with it. Hmm...if New Yorkers around the corner remains vacant indefinitely, I can't see this unit filling up quickly. Maybe a regular style cafe/restaurant similar to North South might open? There's enough junk/fast-food takeaways in town....

Pirates Ale

Wasnt it suggested that a developer owns most of that centre and was waiting for all remaining owners to sell up, so I presume they will buy it.

SouthWesterly

Fire last night on mitchels road of a vacant eyesore that was on the market for quiet a while .

SouthWesterly

The Maxol petrol station in Abbeydorney is changing hands and becoming a Corrib Oil.

They've gotten rid of the hardware section which is a huge loss to locals . Nearest hardware store now is tralee

cms88

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120655367#Comment_120655367

Corrib Oil are really starting to get into the Kerry market. They're in Kenmare as well. That Maxol has been there a long time.

SouthWesterly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120655401#Comment_120655401

It's a huge loss to the area. Many a time I've popped over for tools or other bits.

Will be interesting to see what it becomes.

Staff are being kept on

phormium

I often pop out to that hardware for no other reason than it kept me half sane during lockdown so I feel obliged to support it! Yes it was a little outside the prescribed limit but took a chance and at least you could buy a tin of paint or a few bits to do some projects to stop from going mad with the boredom!

g1983d

http://traleetoday.ie/no-rose-ball-and-festival-wont-be-organising-street-entertainment-this-august/

Serious questions need to be asked how it got to here

Pirates Ale

Now I have never been to the Rose ball, or never intended to, but you would think such an event would be self financing? Or has interested weaned in it.

g1983d

I think in previous years it used fund a large proportion of the costs of the ROT but that was when you had 1500 paying customers in the dome

barryribs

https://www.radiokerry.ie/news/rose-of-tralee-discontinues-rose-ball-and-pulls-out-of-organising-festival-street-events-332981

The article on Radio Kerry sheds a bit more light on the goings on behind the scenes

ejmaztec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120658979#Comment_120658979

I get the impression that the whole thing has the wrong people behind it, people who aren't too hot at getting lucrative sponsorship, not to mention people who make the wrong decisions about venues etc. It's dying a little more each year.

cms88

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120659149#Comment_120659149

imo it's gone downhill ever since  O’Gara came along. I get the vibe a lot of Tralee businesses won't support it anymore.

Ciarrai76

They put the price of the ball tickets up to €200 last year, and it was on in the MTU. I did hear it had sold out, but I don't think they would have had the same capacity as the dome. I was only ever at the ball once, back in 2000. It was ok, nothing amazing. My parents used to go every year when I was growing up, they loved it.

I can't see how the festival is going to be able survive based on todays announcement.

barryribs

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120659371#Comment_120659371

Couldn't agree with this more. He was crying in January that he would wanted to move away from paying to rent the sports hall in MTU and said after last year's festival he'd be going around with his hat in his hand looking for 500 from businesses in town. Something is not right about the whole move from the Rose Hotel with the history there either.

Ciarrai76

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120659846#Comment_120659846

I heard they had a falling out over money! I think he was looking for extra rooms for less etc, not sure of exact story but it all came down to money! I do remember them coming looking for money from our business some years ago and at the time we just couldn't do it and their attitude was not very happy or understanding! There have been a lot of comments or digs aimed at businesses in the town in the last few years by oGara and how they don't support the festival etc....such bull!

lordleitrim

I just wish the festival was a music or culture or other modern theme oriented festival or something with an anchor that might draw modern punters. Can you honestly say anyone outside Kerry that is not directly related or connected to a Rose contestant would even remotely consider visiting Tralee in late August because the festival was on?

Also, what modern or progressive business in the 2020s wants to be associated with or "proudly sponsoring" a contest that patronises women and "celebrates" them for having masters degrees and successful careers (surely that shouldn't be considered an amazing achievement anymore?) but can also dance a jig, play a flute and look nice in a frock? I'm not trying to be woke here but imagine celebrating men for achieving such "accomplishments"?

It's ironic and actually sad that Father Ted was able to mock the silliness and condescension of Rose of Tralee 30 years ago with its Lovely Girls episode yet here we are still peddling this nonsense..

Oh I know...let's make it modern by allowing pregnant, unmarried, non binary, transexual people to participate....as long as they still wear a frock and dance a jig....

Well, the critics needn't worry about destroying the festival...it looks like the organising committee is doing a good job of that itself reading of the latest retrograde steps it's taking....

ejmaztec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120660055#Comment_120660055

The main man should transfer the "business" to someone who hasn't peed off the businesses and related organisations in the town with his attitude. I bet the global Rose of Tralee people can't be happy with how it's been handled here.

I remember that there was a breakaway Rose of Tralee situation years ago, but can't remember the reason for it, so it's possible that it may happen again, but on a larger scale. A couple of more years of the "attitude" and the Rose of Tralee will be gone altogether.

ejmaztec

This must have been an interesting meeting between yer Man and KCC. I wonder who promised what to whom?

Kerry County Council confirm a family festival will go ahead in Tralee in August | RadioKerry.ie

SouthWesterly

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120662781#Comment_120662781

Do I read it right that KCC gave the organisers an ultimatum on running the festival or the rose was dead.

g1983d

What kind if ultimatum

ejmaztec

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120663156#Comment_120663156

I think you're reading more into it than was reported, we only seem to be getting the basics about what happened at the meeting. All hell could have broken loose for all we know, and all kinds of threats and ultimatums issued. Perhaps some KCC whistleblower will spill the beans one day? 😋

SouthWesterly

On another note, I see another phone shop is opening up. Mr iPhone. Just what we need🤣

ejmaztec

It looks like KCC is going to handle all the events in the town centre, and will discuss what's going to happen to the festival in future.

"Cllr Sheehy says there will have to be a discussion on the future of the event, including festival ownership once this years festival has concluded."

The fact that yer man is only handling the Rose side of things speaks volumes. I think his goose is cooked.

Mayor of Tralee says work has begun for family festival | RadioKerry.ie

cms88

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/120671353#Comment_120671353

I'm not sure will the council do much better imo