Brian Davy was made to feel just a little uncomfortable at the Kerry annual general meeting this week when one shareholder berated the broking firm for its charges for dealing in Kerry shares. "Their commissions are very high," the elderly shareholder at the back of the hall opined.

Kerry chairman, Michael Hanrahan, was quick to put the Davy man on the spot and Brian Davy, just a little unconvincingly, said that Davy's charges were "normal" but he assured the a.g.m. that he would bring the shareholders' comments back to Dublin for further reflection.

For our Kerry readers, here is some simple advice. Shop around if you aren't happy with Davy's or any other stockbroker's charges. Word has it in Tralee that Brian McCarthy's Fexco - headquartered just down the road in Killorglin - has built up a tidy business dealing in Kerry shares.