Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent) | Oireachtas source

Arts, culture and heritage are important all over the country but in no other county are they more important, in my humble opinion, than County Kerry. We are rich in the world of arts because we have produced so many important people who have made such an impact in Ireland. I will give just one example off the top of my head of Cill Rialaig Arts Centre in Ballinskelligs. It was the brainchild of Ms Noelle Campbell-Sharp who did great work with other artists. She brought thousands of people to that area. People have gone into a village that was derelict and falling into decay. There are great people like Mr. Nicholas Brown, who is the chairperson of a local committee, and all the others who worked diligently in ensuring that excellent facility was there for past, present and future up-and-coming artists and people who need to go to a special place to use their brains in only the way they can. We must support that type of work. I compliment people such Ms Kate Kennelly, who was our arts and heritage officer in County Kerry for many years, and our local authority, Kerry County Council, for the excellent work it has done in promoting the arts.

In all parts of the county, we have produced excellent people who have made a valuable and important contribution. Even during times of difficulty, the financial recession and the present difficulties we have, it is terribly important that we continue to support artists and to remember that during the present crisis we have entertainers who used to entertain every night of the week. Now they cannot perform what they are good at and we must support those people.

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