Tralee splashes out on roadway fountain

A large-scale fountain in Tralee, Co Kerry, will be the first roundabout fountain in the country, according to its promoters.

A large-scale fountain in Tralee, Co Kerry, will be the first roundabout fountain in the country, according to its promoters.

Constructed according to a design by Roman Fountains, a US company, it will cost about €135,000.

A series of 17 nozzles at different levels will spray jets of water over the roundabout on the N86 at Ballyard.

However, motorists and passers-by need not fear a soaking. "A device to monitor wind speed will ensure that the height of the jets will reduce automatically should the wind speed increase to ensure that water does not spray onto the road or passing traffic," said Tom O'Donnell of Tuatha Chiarraí, which is contributing €35,000 towards the equipment.

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Matching funds will come from Towards a Better Tralee, a group set up to improve the town's appearance. And civil works to be borne by the local authorities are estimated at a further €65,000.

A large base pool will also trap the water, so that none escapes onto the road, Mr O'Donnell added.

The fountain will have a centre cascade nozzle spraying water at a height of 6.09m (20ft). This will be surrounded by no fewer than eight "cascade nozzles" spraying water to a height of 3.65m (12ft) and these in turn are encased by a further eight outer nozzles spraying to a height of 1.82m (6ft). Floodlit at night, the fountain will stop spraying at midnight.

Kerry County Council and town council engineers will begin assembly work later this week and Roman Fountains engineers are expected to be on hand to oversee construction.