Sound of horses’ hooves marks Killarney tourism return

Paul Tangney pulls his horse Gonzo and his excursion car from the picturesque Hah Hah, where the Jarveys do business in central Killarney, onto Mission Road and makes his way to Killarney National Park and Ross Castle.

The clatter of horses’ hooves on the asphalt has not been heard for months – his return is welcome and entirely symbolic.

The return of the horses and the boisterous cars means that the tourists are on their way back too.

Paul has been a Jarvey for 40 years. He explains to Killarney the importance of tourism. It directly employs a quarter of the population, and practically everyone feels the outsourcing indirectly.

Hotels, B & Bs, self-catering accommodation and hostels have reopened as the gradual lifting of Covid-19 restrictions on the tourism and hospitality sectors begins. Our South Editor, Paschal Sheehy, reports from Killarney, Co. Kerry. | Continue reading: https://t.co/zvEmpifY32 pic.twitter.com/G5aIT5EfD2

– RTÉ news (@rtenews) June 2, 2021

Ireland’s incredible natural beauty is the cornerstone of its tourism industry, which – prior to Covid-19 – was worth € 9.5 billion a year and employed more than a quarter of a million people.

In Kerry, tourism is touching every corner of the community and the effects of the virus cost the county an estimated $ 400 million in the past year alone.

“The last 15 months have been a strange time for everyone here in Killarney,” explains Paul Tangney.

“Having no tourists, atmosphere is lacking in Killarney – especially at this time of year – it is very different, but hopefully we will welcome all our Irish visitors from now on and hopefully some international guests in the near future.”

Paul’s sister Laura is Jarvey in the fifth generation and runs the family business with eight spray cars.

Laura Tangney runs the family business with eight spray cars

“Look, we’re busy rolling out the green carpet here,” says Laura as the lodging sector reopens in Killarney and across the country.

“We look forward to welcoming the Irish back to our home. We had a good eight weeks when they visited us last year and it was great to see the international travel announcement in July. We have to leave Covid behind. “Now get out there and get back to work.”

Niall and Dermot O’Donoghue own the 30-room Old Weir Lodge guest house on Killarney’s Muckross Road. Both are convinced that tourism will recover from Covid-19.

“You have nice hotels, you have nice restaurants, especially the national park, the Killarney lakes and the mountains. They have the entire infrastructure for tourists, whether my age in the 70s or someone Niall’s age – there is something for everyone here. “

Niall and Dermot O’Donoghue are convinced that tourism will recover

Dermot’s son Niall says the pandemic has been particularly difficult for the guest house staff and those who work in the broader tourism sector.

“It was tough and it was tough for the employees. We have kept in touch with them and we look forward to seeing them again in the last few days – it’s great to have them again, ”says Niall.

Husband and wife Dave and Mary Gibson from Dublin are busy cleaning crystal chandeliers in the dining room of the five-star Killarney Park Hotel.

The kitchen staff and chef Sean Doyle are already cooking for the guests and the anticipation is great.

Hotel manager Niamh O’Shea is cautious, however.

“I walk a fine line between optimism because we have such fantastic domestic market deals on the books for the coming months, but also a bit of realism,” she said.

Niamh O’Shea says: “We are ready … carry on”

“We know the return of international travel will be key to our recovery, and we have a mammoth task ahead of us to bring air capacity back up to where we were in 2019. I know Tourism Ireland has plans and is ready to go, but it will take time, a concerted effort and no doubt the support of the government. “

For Niamh and her co-workers, recovery begins today: “You know what, we’re ready; there have been plans for many months – just put them on.”

With the country reopening, there are signs that hope is returning, but the risks remain – hundreds of millions of euros are at stake in Kerry, billions are at stake across the country and no one can afford a fourth wave.