Visitors using Kerry village’s hospitality facilities to spend a penny without any actual spend

By Alastair Tibbs, The Kerryman

There are growing calls to revitalise a former toilet block in a village that is key stop on the world-renowned Ring of Kerry.

Local councillors have raised concerns over the lack of facilities for many buses that pass through Sneem everyday and warn that businesses are being ‘overrun’ by tourists who need to spend a penny without any actual spend.

At a recent Kenmare Municipal District meeting, Councillor Dan McCarthy urged Kerry County Council to apply for funding to refurbish the former toilets in the village’s south square.

While there are currently public toilets in the north square, Cllr McCarthy pointed out that most of the buses park in the south square, with bus-goers then pilling into the nearby hotels and bars.

He said this was ‘unfair’ on local businesses who would have to pay for the cost of water and other bills, without generating any business.

Cllr McCarthy said that while Sneem was only a village, its population ‘quadruples’ over a few hours a day when buses arrive.

His motion was supported by Councillor Johnny Healy-Rae who argued the current location of the toilets in the North Square was always supposed to be a temporary facility, and that ‘all’ buses stop in the South Square.

Cllr Healy-Rae claimed that there were 82 different buses operating the route, providing a constant flow of visitors who required facilities.

He hinted that locals might offer to lease the building from the council to refurbish it, adding that any works wouldn’t require planning permission.

“They can’t all use the same place at the same time. It’s needed with all the people coming over a concentrated period,” said Cllr Healy-Rae.

Cllr Tommy Cahill added that there was a local desire to reintroduce the facilities in the South Square.

Kerry County Council (KCC) said the current facilities in the North Square are maintained by the Sneem Development Co-operative Limited and that a formation of a community group for this project would help.

A council officer said an individual previously wanted to lease the building but they advised a group would be better.

Cllr Healy-Rae countered that there shouldn’t be a governance issue with an individual, asking that KCC simply advised if they could do it or not.

KCC replied that they would look into the matter and come back to members in due course.