EMPLOYEES INFORMED OF REDUNDANCIES AT TRADITIONAL FARMS FROM SEPTEMBER 1 BUT CONFUSION REIGNS

CONFUSION reigns over the future of Muckross Traditional Farms after the Department of Heritage failed to respond to key queries put to it by The Kerryman yesterday. This newspaper posed additional questions to the Department after it announced on Tuesday afternoon that the Farms would “remain open”.

This appeared to contradict what the Board of Trustees revealed last week, that the award-winning farm would close indefinitely from September 1. From now until then, the farm would remain open on a limited capacity, the Board had said.

“Muckross Traditional Farms is a commercial venture run by the Trustees of Muckross House,” a Department spokesperson told this newspaper.

“We are working with the Trustees of Muckross House in that regard and the question of redundancies does not arise at this time. We can confirm that the Traditional Farm will remain open to visitors.”

Later in its statement, the Department also said: “The day-to-day operation of Muckross House is run by the Trustees and all matters in relation to their staff should be addressed to them.”

The Kerryman then asked the Department a number of follow-up queries to clarify these points. We asked would the farm remain open beyond September 1, and would it be open in summer 2021.

We asked the Department to clarify what it meant by “the question of redundancies does not arise at this time”, querying whether the redundancies would arise at a later stage.

We also asked the Department how it could confirm that the question of redundancies does not arise when it also acknowledges that “all matters in relation to” staff are controlled by the trustees, not the Department.

At the time of going to print, the Department had not responded to these follow-up queries.

The Kerryman made several attempts to contact Minister Brendan Griffin TD and the Board of Trustees on Tuesday.

LATE last week the Board of Trustees announced potential job losses at Muckross Farm which they said they had no choice but to close later this year ‘indefinitely’. While the tourism product of Muckross House is not directly under threat, the 18-strong Board of Trustees of Muckross House said on Monday that the farms will close from September 1.

Chairman of the Board of Trustees Micheál Ó Coileáin said it would be “reckless” to keep the facility open in the wake of Covid-19 income losses and a significant fall in the number of tour buses which the facility, which showcases pre-electrification 1930s style properties and practices, is heavily reliant on.

“We will remain open until the end of August to accommodate the Irish tourist season but it will be limited and free of charge. We will then close indefinitely and we are likely to see seven or eight redundancies,” he added.

A subcommittee of seven members of the main board was set up to examine the situation at Muckross Traditional Farms and staff were informed last week that there will be job losses.

Trustees said a process will now follow, examining all options including shorter days and reduced hours.

“We’re trying to keep job losses under 10,” Mr Ó Coileáin continued. “Our biggest worry is next