Together we can make things better

AS another dreary, dank year of austerity draws to a close there are probably few out there who will be sad to see the back of 2012.

It’s been a rough year, there’s no doubt about that, but rather than focus on the negatives of the last twelve months let’s look forward with some hope to the year ahead and the potential it offers.

Ireland’s age of austerity isn’t going to end in 2013 but there are some reasons to be hopeful and indeed confident.

The first positive we can take is the success of the holiday season just passed. While it won’t break any records in terms of sales there was clear evidence that, in spite of a harsh budget, shoppers are beginning to return to the high street.

This isn’t just good news for retailers. Any increase in business helps the whole county and will feed through the entire economy hopefully bringing some benefit to all of us.

The best news of all though comes from who was doing all that spending. Most retailers across the county have reported that much of the 2012 Christmas spend was local. Instead of travelling in their droves to Limerick and Cork ,shoppers chose to stay at home and use their hard earned cash to support local business.

If that trend continues, and given the new found spirit of community the recession has fostered there is no reason to doubt that it won’t, it will be good news for the entire county.

That spirit of community will also be of vital importance if Kerry is to capitalise on the 2013 Gathering. Kerry, which already has a host of its own gathering’s like The Rose of Tralee, Puck Fair or Listowel Writers Week, is uniquely positioned to capitalise on the initiative.

Kerry already has more Gathering events planned than any other county and our fortunate position as Ireland’s tourist Mecca means the Gathering has the potential to bring millions into the local economy.

True, the Gathering has attracted many naysayers, some with valid points, but whatever youre opinion of the concept it’s surely an opportunity we can’t afford to miss.

Community spirit and a willingness to work together will be vital to its success.

With our political leaders dithering in Leinster House it’s up to us to get ourselves out of the mess we find ourselves in. Let’s make 2013 the year we pull together and do just that.

From all at The Kerryman we wish you a happy and prosperous New Year.