This article is from page 14 of the 2014-04-15 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 14 JPG
GREEN shoots of economic recovery are being seen in Kilrush, despite the town being ranked as the place worst hit by the recession in Clare.
According to the Kilrush Chamber of Commerce, the introduction of large international supermarkets has had a negative effect on businesses in the town in recent years but a upturn in the tourism sector over the past 12 months is breathing new life into West Clare.
Kilrush was ranked as the Clare town worst hit by the recession in a new study of both employment levels and emigration carried out by Teagasc. The study, which compares figures from the Central Statistic Office from 2006 and 2011, found that Kilrush was the worst effected Clare town overall even though it did not rank worst in either changes to unemployment or emigration.
According to the Teagasc figures, Ennistymon and Killaloe were the worst hit by unemployment, with Kilrush coming in third. Shannon and Ennis saw the biggest change in emigration, with Kilrush the third worst effected town.
Kilrush, Shannon town and Ennis were given “red” status by Teagasc, indicating that they were among the towns worst hit when both unemployment and emigration.
According to the Kilrush Chamber of Commerce, the arrival of a number of large supermarkets in recent years have had a effect on a number of businesses in the town.
“Retail has suffered everywhere and people have less money in their pockets to spend but the arrival of two international supermarkets has had an effect on a lot of businesses in the town,” said Jack Kelly of the Kilrush Chamber.
“It is very difficult to compete with the scale of the international retailers. This has hit every small business in the town. Initially we though ti would just be the food businesses but these large shops now sell electrical goods, clothes, children goods, book – nearly every business in the town is effected in some way. “The Gathering was a great benefit to us last year. There was a great boost in tourism number because of that and the success of tourism in Loop Head and that has spin offs for all of West Clare. “There are some green shoots emerging, especially in the tourism sectors, and we can grow on that it would be a great step forward. We are hopeful that things like the Wild Atlantic Way and the Ryanair flight in Shannon will help. If number can grow like they did when Ryanair expanded in Shannon in 2003 and 2004 then if will be very positive.”