Thank you to all who worked to keep Kerry open

WHEN one looks at the images from across the rest of the country there is little doubt that Kerry escaped the worst of last week’s freezing weather.

That, however, does not lessen the hard work and dedication of the many men and women who worked round the clock and braved horrendous conditions to keep our county up and running.

While most of us were safely tucked up in our homes, hundreds of civil defence and emergency team volunteers were out in the snow doing all in their power to keep their communities safe.

Meanwhile, the emergency services were out in force, working in dreadful conditions, and ensuring that, despite the dreadful weather, no part of the county was left unprotected and unguarded.

In our hospitals staff worked around the clock with many staff staying in or near their place of work to make sure services could be provided at as close to normal levels as possible.

Council and ESB staff were also out in force from the early hours of Friday morning, working to clear tonnes of snow from the county’s roads and to make sure power was flowing in all homes.

Their workload was enormous and they deserve immense credit for their selfless – and no doubt enormously draining – efforts.

From everyone at The Kerryman, thank you all.