Sir, - I refer to Chris Dooley's report on Carlow (from the southeast, November 4th) and the article published under the headline "We are still banjaxed" in the Carlow Nationalist of October 23rd. The suggestion that the root cause of all the ills listed in the Nationalist article is the lack of a Government TD in Carlow is nonsense. If Carlow is banjaxed it didn't happen yesterday or since the last general election. It happened over the past 20 years and during that time Carlow has had one or other of its TDs in government.
Carlow is in the position it is in today because no one fought for Carlow, no one demanded for Carlow and no one provided leadership for Carlow. Carlow and Kilkenny broadly suffer from the same problem: the perception in Dublin that both counties are doing all right. Unlike Kilkenny, Carlow does not appear to have the co-operation and/or co-ordination between its industrial, commercial, state, semi-state, political and local government bodies necessary to tackle the problems it faces.
Carlow, like every other county in Ireland, has all it takes to become a tourist destination. Carlow Town is a very attractive, relatively unspoiled, friendly Irish county town and there are lots of attractions throughout the county. It already has, for instance, the very successful Eigse Arts Festival. However, I urge caution in choosing the path forward.
Too many towns and cities in this county have lost their souls as part of their effort to attract tourists. I have frequently said in public that Kilkenny, for instance, is becoming a Disneyland and there is no need for it. In a hasty, ill considered pursuit of tourist revenue, many towns in Ireland have unnecessarily destroyed the quality of life of their citizens. In a world full of false fronts it is worth considering that the ultimate winners may well be those places which retain their integrity by placing their own needs first. Tourists can find false fronts, over-restored buildings, Disneylands and better weather in far too many parts of the world. Carlow should not follow that path.
Representatives of Carlow town and county should be involved in preparing a county-wide tourist package. Decision should be taken about the type of tourism to be promoted, the method of promotion and how the needs of tourists are going to be met without turning the county into a theme park. Ensuring that the development of towns and villages is placed in the hands of architects and town planners would be a major step forward.
In relation to industry, I am aware that an advance factory has been built in Carlow and I applaud the efforts of those involved. However, the county's approach needs to be much more co-ordinated and focused. Kilkenny, through an industrial committee, set up by me, which includes representatives of the chamber of commerce, industry and semi-state bodies is building two advance factories. These have come into being because it was decided that self-help was the only way forward and the energies of all interested bodies should be mobilised to force the Government to pay attention to our needs.
There is no reason why Carlow cannot do the same and I will do all I can to bring it about. I have an office in Carlow and I am there every Thursday. Furthermore, I am a politician who is prepared to stand up for what I believe in and part of my job is to provide leadership.
It would be a grievous mistake to decry my commitment simply because I come from Kilkenny. If nothing else the people of Carlow and the bodies who represent them should give me the opportunity. I am ready, willing and able to make my contribution. - Yours, etc., John J. McGuinness, TD,
O'Loughlin Road,
Kilkenny.