Business in Kerry hit worst by virus
TOURIST HOTSPOTS DINGLE, KILLARNEY AND KENMARE AMONG THE WORST HIT TOWNS IN THE ENTIRE COUNTRY
THE devastating economic toll of the Coronavirus will hit Kerry harder than any other county a major new study on the impact of the virus and lockdown on businesses has revealed.
Dingle is one of the hardest hit towns in the entire country, coming fourth in the list of the 15 most vulnerable towns according to the study which was carried out jointly by Ireland’s three Regional Assemblies.
Tourist hotspots Killarney, and Kenmare also feature in the top 15 of the 199 town’s included in the study.
In absolute terms, Killarney has the most affected businesses of any town in Ireland, with 509 businesses in the tourist Mecca deemed vulnerable to the virus’ impact.
The report – prepared jointly by Ireland’s three Regional Assemblies – examines how businesses in various sectors in every county have been affected.
County Kerry – with its heavy reliance on both tourism and agriculture – is by far the worst hit with 53.8 per cent of all businesses across the county seeing their trade directly impacted. That’s well above the national average of 46 per cent.
While still badly affected, the study shows that Kerry towns and areas less reliant on tourism are in a far better position.
Tralee – the county’s and administrative centre – is in 121st position on the list with 46.8 per cent of local businesses directly impacted and large numbers of tech, finance and professional service jobs – which can be done remotely – providing an economic buffer.
North Kerry also fared relatively well with its 43.6-per-cent impact rate seeing Listowel in 166th spot.
ECONOMICALLY Kerry will be the worst-hit county in the country by the Coronavirus according to a new study on the impact of the virus and lock-down on businesses.
Killarney, Dingle and Kenmare have suffered a devastating hit with the three tourism hotspots named among the 15 most vulnerable towns according to the study.
The report – prepared jointly by Ireland’s three Regional Assemblies – examines how many businesses in various sectors in each region, county, city and town have been affected.
Kerry – with its heavy reliance on tourism and agriculture – is by far the hardest hit with 53.8 per cent of businesses in the county seeing their trade directly impacted by the crisis.
That’s well above the national average of 46 per cent and far higher than Dublin, where 39.4 per cent of businesses have taken a direct hit from COVID-19.
The figures show that in Kerry 3,263 businesses trade in categories – such as tourism, hospitality and recreation – that are the worst-affected by the virus.
A sharp difference has also emerged between the major cities and rural counties, with the presence of large numbers of tech, finance and professional service jobs – which can be done remotely – providing an economic buffer for the cities.
Three Kerry towns are seen as being at particular risk with Dingle, Kenmare and Killarney highlighted in a list of the 15 worst-affected towns of the 199 included in the study.
With 62.6 per cent of its businesses (199 businesses) directly hit, Dingle is fourth in the national list with Kenmare at 61.9 per cent (143 business) just behind it in fifth place.
Killarney, where 57.8 per cent of businesses are directly affected, is in 11th position.
In absolute terms (ignoring per capita analysis) Killarney has the most affected businesses of any town in Ireland, with 509 businesses in the tourist Mecca deemed vulnerable to the virus impact.
The urban-rural divide in the national figures can also be seen in Kerry.
Tralee – which has less reliance on tourism and acts as the county’s administrative centre – is in 121st position on the list with 46.8 per cent of local businesses directly impacted.
Meanwhile the benefits of the finance and pharmaceutical sectors can be seen in Killorglin – home to Fexco and Astellas – which is in 176th place, with 42 per cent of businesses impacted.
By comparison to south and west Kerry, north Kerry also fared relatively well with its 43.6-percent impact rate placing it in 166th spot.