Celine Slattery (b. 1930)

Track 1: Killarney is the birthplace of Celine Slattery and she explains that she was the youngest of ten children. Her family moved to Tralee during her teenage years. Her father P. C. O’Mahony was County Secretary in Tralee. She recalls her involvement with the Red Cross, the Badminton Club and the Tralee Development Association in earlier days. Track 2: Her involvement with Tralee Tourism, which worked voluntarily to promote Tralee in the late 1950s and early 1960s is recalled, as is the setting up of the Tralee Development Association the aim of which was to bring the urban and rural communities together. She explains that this Association went on to become the Kingdom County Fair and she also discusses the Carnival Queen. Her role in the Kingdom County Fair over the years as full-time Secretary until 1975 is discussed. Track 3: She recalls her work in sourcing accommodation for visitors to the Rose of Tralee Festival from 1958, and she discusses her trips abroad, with others, to promote the town. The Tourist Information Centre in The Mall, Tralee, and the work of Pat Hanafin there is discussed. Track 4: Her work in Kerry County Council prior to her marriage in 1960 and her subsequent work as Constituency Secretary to Denis Foley TD is recalled. She describes her Fianna Fáil family background – her mother Kathleen Fleming from Mastergeehy in Killarney was a member of Cumann na mBan and her father P. C. O’Mahony fought in the War of Independence. Track 5: She gives her views on the forthcoming Municipal Council and she anecdotally discusses the work of Tralee Urban District Council over the years. The Tralee Chamber Alliance is also discussed and she explains the role she expects it to play into the future.