The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Tourism edges farming as our main industry
October 1991
KERRY will earn £125 million from tourism this year, topping the county’s agricultural earnings of £117 million for the first time it emerged this week.
South Kerry Fianna Fail TD John O’Leary, disclosed these figures at a special meeting of Kerry County Deputy Tom McEllistrim to discuss industrial and tourism development in Kerry with representatives from Shannon Development, Council called by chairman Cork Kerry Tourism, Udaras na Gaeltachta and the IDA.
Afterwards Deputy O’Leary told The Kerryman that the earnings figures from tourism and agriculture were provisional and were compiled for the board of Kerry Airport.
“For the first time ever earnings from tourism will surpass agriculture in Kerry,” Deputy O’Leary told the meeting.
He said there are currently two to three industrial projects in the pipeline for South Kerry requiring investments of £4 million to £3 million, but he said he was very disappointed there has been very little industrial development in the Kenmare and Rathmore areas.
Deputy O’Leary also said that some intensive form of horticulture should be established in Kerry with the necessary supporting processing plants if necessary.
He pointed to the success of the mushroom growing business in the Monaghan area adding that a similar development should be possible in Kerry.
The meeting was first addressed by representatives from each of the State agencies invited to it. They outlined their respective roles and developments to date. Then individual council members were asked to make contributions and ask questions. Chairman Tom McEllistrim said he was very disappointed with the industrial promotion of North Kerry saying the area was crying out for employment.
Independent Cllr Tommy Foley said there were 8,520 people unemployed in Kerry and of these 3,714 are in Tralee, 546 in Dingle, 443 in Kenmare, 1,220 in Killarney and 717 in Killorglin.
“We have no Minister in Kerry. If we had a Minister we’d have more jobs. We have no shout and no clout. I don’t give a hoot what party he comes from but we need one,” declared MrFoley.
Fine Gael Deputy Jimmy Deenihan said that in the past Governments were being blamed for poor employment figures. He said the figures for Kerry are startling.
However, he said that as a county, Kerry had done very little to help itself and the people in the county should use the fantastic goodwill that exists.
He said there are industri-