Mr Páidí Ó Sé, the Kerry football team manager has defended his appointment to the board of Bord Fáilte. The appointment was announced by Mr O'Donoghue, Minister for Arts Sport and Tourism in June. It has been the subject of surprise among hoteliers in Kerry.
"However, I've had long experience in tourism," Mr Ó Sé said, "and the brief included sport and recreation as well.
"In 1969 as a 10-year-old in my mother's shop (in West Kerry) when Ryan's Daughter was being filmed, which was the start of the Mecca of tourism in Kerry. I was selling bottles of Lucozade to Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles at 9 a.m in the morning before going to school" .
Tourist personnel in Kerry "might underestimate my ability in tourism . . . These people in the IHF who are criticising me, I'd like to meet them. I'll discuss anything with them, statistics or anything else. And I'll work diligently for the tourism industry in Kerry," he said.
His obligation as a board member was more than as a representative of Kerry tourism. He was also representing Gaeltacht and cultural tourism from Killybegs to Ballinskelligs and Derrynane and Galway West.
Mr Ó Sé strongly denied his appointment to the board of Bord Fáilte was politically motivated.
"Politics doesn't come into this at all," he said. More than likely he would have got the appointment, had "Fine Gael been in office," he said. "I am also a very good buddy of Pat Rabbitte's and of Martin Ferris's", he said, when it was put to him that his friendship with Taoiseach Bertie Ahern was well known.
Mr Ó Sé was speaking to Radio Kerry and to The Kerryman.
Mr Patrick O'Donoghue, the Killarney hotelier and Bord Fáilte board member said he abstained from the board meeting which decided the next Ireland Travel Trade Workshop. This is an international gathering of tour operators organised by Bord Fáilte to be held in Killarney and at the NEC (National Events Centre) which Mr O'Donoghue owns.
The workshop, which is the largest travel trade event in the Irish tourism calendar, will take place from May 12th to May 13th next year. Tourism interests in Kerry have been lobbying for the workshop for almost two years.
Mr O'Donoghue said he abstained from the vote and it was a board decision. The NEC was the only building capable of holding the event. It was of benefit to all Killarney and the region, he said. It was to be held in Killarney a year ago, but did not take place because of foot-and-mouth.
Tourism figures and the Minister for Arts, Sport and Tourism have welcomed the event.