Ireland's Eye: What's going on in the old sod this week

A look at news from around Ireland

“If the person calling to the door is a garda, then they would be only too happy to display their identification. All gardai are obliged to carry an identification card, which has a photograph and the garda crest on it, as well as a signature, which is that of the garda commissioner.”

Clare Champion

Kerry Losing People
PARTS of rural Kerry have suffered devastating population declines in the last five years, according to the results of last year's census.

Large areas of south and west Kerry have seen their populations plummet by up to 93% as a result of recession, migration and emigration.

While the population of Kerry as a whole grew marginally since 2006, the census results show that many more isolated areas in south and west Kerry are facing a population crisis, with some small villages turning into veritable ghost towns.

The most shocking fall in population was seen in the Cloghane electoral area of west Kerry where the 2011 census shows the total population fell by 93% since 2006. In 2006 there were 2,127 people living the area, but by the time the last census was completed last April this had plunged to just 152 people.

Local businessman Micheal Dowd says a lack of sustainable employment in the area has had a devastating effect.

"Our core industries of fishing and farming have been neglected and need more support as there is no proper local employment to speak of," he said. "In fact I would say that up to three quarters of households in the Cloghane area are involved in tourism in some way."

"These figures reveal how the very social fabric that we have worked so hard to preserve is being ripped apart."

Other areas of west Kerry have suffered a similar fate.

In the Dún Chaoin and Castlegregory electoral areas the population fell by 71% between the 2006 and 2011 censuses.

Speaking about the population decline in Dún Chaoin, Liam Ó Rocháin of An Ghaeltacht GAA Club said the figures will have a devastating effect on the GAA and the Irish language.

"With less households there is less spoken Irish in the home and as a consequence the language will suffer, perhaps irreparably," he said.

The Kerryman

Stripper Thief
A 30-YEAR-old who stripped down to her bra when challenged over a shoplifting incident and who acted in what Judge Kevin Kilrane said was "a disgraceful fashion" was told to return to Sligo Court with a sum of €500 later in the month if she wanted to avoid jail.

Judge Kilrane stated that Ann McDonagh of Castlebar, had further engaged in the "filthy abuse" of staff at Colleran's Pharmacy, the Square, Charlestown, on September 6.

McDonagh had initially appeared before Tubbercurry Court and was remanded in custody overnight to appear at Sligo. A co-accused, Mary McDonagh, was remanded in custody to appear at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court.

At Tubbercurry Court, Kilrane heard how Ann and Mary McDonagh and two children entered the pharmacy and went upstairs to where items of crystal were located. Ann McDonagh put an item up her top and staff observed her doing so.

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Nster.com