Sir, - As a native of Donegal, who lives in and loves the county, its topography, its location and its wonderful people, I find it distressing to see the tag "disadvantaged" being so frequently and generally attached to the county at present. Fruit of the Loom is, sadly, in grave pending difficulties with tragic and devastating consequences for the north of the county, but the whole county and the major clothing/textiles employment within it should not be written off as a result.
As chairman of Magee, a company with an international reputation, employing 385 people in Donegal in the clothing and textiles sector and a further 220 in its sister factory in Northern Ireland, it is doubly distressing to have the real geographical disadvantages of Donegal allied to the problems of the clothing and textiles industry in Western Europe.
Of course, Donegal's distance from main ports and airports is a problem and the failure of successive Governments to develop the road and air infrastructure has not helped and I wholeheartedly concur with the sentiments expressed about air access by Dr Declan Bonar, September 11th, a good friend and fellow "tramper" of these hills. That said, the perception of remoteness is greater than the reality, and I write this from the centre of London at 12 noon having left Donegal early this morning.
Yes, it is a fact that no large employer in a "high tech" industrial sector has started up in Donegal, which is in marked contrast with what is happening in other parts of Ireland and particularly the east coast. Is that just geography?
I would, however, like to make the point that Donegal, while it has some access difficulties from an employer's perspective, has numerous geographical advantages - the obvious being its magnificent Atlantic seaboard, its rugged inland scenery and the natural friendliness of its people.
Perhaps less obvious, but even more potent, are the high levels of indigenous skills and the tremendously strong work ethic. It is no accident that the county has more people employed in the clothing and textile sectors than any other county in Ireland, but equally it is wrong to write off the whole clothing and textile sectors as being increasingly fragile employers in the face of low-cost competition.
The indigenous skills developed through generations of clever and adaptable people, who wove, knitted or crocheted to augment harsh agricultural conditions, should not be undersold. These skills deserve support, as when harnessed to modern technology and high levels of design and marketing investment, a good future can be secured.
The Government and its agencies must redouble their efforts to maintain and develop this employment - not just by "putting bread in a begging bowl" but by creating the physical and economic environment for this and other labour intensive industries. - Yours, etc., R. Lynn Temple,
Magee & Co Ltd,
Donegal Town.