OPINION: Little or nothing has been done to replace the 3,000 or so industrial jobs that have been lost to Killarney over the years and with the former Pretty Poilly site still vacant, it is o longer acceptable that the IDA should allow its land to be used for grazing, writes former Mayor of Killarney Sean Counihan
AS a former Mayor of Killarney and Chairman of Killarney’s Council of Trade Unions, I’m delighted to see the traders taking an interest in the town. This, I believe, is a positive step.
For far too long we have allowed ourselves be open to a one-type-for-all economy. If nothing else was learned from Covid, this fact should not be lost on the community in Killarney and a greater effort to attract jobs must be made.
It’s not good enough that we don’t seem to have a body interested in highlighting this fact.
Since the abolition of the town council in 2014, I’m not aware of any councillor or TD calling for industry to replace the 3,000 industrial type jobs lost in Killarney over a 20-year period. I would hope that putting an advanced building in Tiernaboul, where the IDA land is let for grazing, is considered as important as shouting about pubs opening.
The Pretty Polly site, gifted to the people of the town, could also be modernised to accommodate inward investment.
There has been enough shouting now about working from home as this will accommodate the few with large offices laying idle. This might suit civil and public servants but it will do little in the way of jobs for those on PUP payments.
There is a greater need for our elected representative to shout about more than one industry and stop central government giving us platitudes about being a tourist county.
We have intelligent young people who are entitled to expect a chance to live in their own town and county this will only happen if the IDA is pursued to give us equality.
