No joke, Kerry tourism promotes a reign in Spain

IT could be the greatest Kerryman joke — except it’s true.

And like all half-decent jokes there is a brand of Kingdom cuteness at the heart of the matter.

The latest addition to the canon of classic Kerry skits runs like this:

Have you heard the one about the Kerry marketing company trying to promote tourism in the county?

No?

Well they’re giving away a €100,000 villa in sunny Spain.

This time the joke is true. Tourism chiefs believe the best way to promote the county is to give the public a holiday home in Spain.

A company marketing Kerry has launched a fundraising initiative that will see the winner picking up the keys to a luxury Spanish villa next year.

Destination South West Kerry (DSWK), which markets the county’s Skellig Region, has organised a fundraising drive to help boost tourism in the scenic Iveragh peninsula.

First prize is a villa in Spain and there is also a Fiat Seicento car up for grabs as well.

Thinking big, the men behind the project know the allure of a villa in Spain will bring in huge money in the weekly fundraising draws that begin next month.

While one or two people might be on their way to sunny Spain next summer, there will be plenty of cash to tell the world about those lovely, rainy days in South Kerry.

“These big draws will enable the company achieve its goal to promote the region.

“This will allow us compete in the very competitive world of tourism and it will increase revenue locally,” DSWK chairman Francie O’Driscoll said.

The region covers about 300 miles from Kells to Sneem and already the company has managed to bring in foreign film crews to promote the area abroad.

With their own logo now established the drive is on to make the area one of the top spots on the world famous Ring of Kerry.

And sure as they say down that way: “That along the way there might be something in it for Spain too.”