Tourist spot has no dependable phone system for emergency services

HUNDREDS of tourists pass through Kerry’s Black Valley each day, but emergency services can’t be contacted by phone in the event of an accident, or someone becoming seriously ill.

This was revealed yesterday amid further calls for a proper phone service for the remote valley in the MacGillycuddy Reeks outside Killarney.

Raising the issue at a county council meeting in Tralee, Independent councillor Michael Healy-Rae said the battery-powered Rurtel phone system in the valley did not work in hot or wet weather.

There is no phone system there between 11am and 8pm each day.

“They haven’t a landline or a mobile service — a situation that would hardly exist in Outer Mongolia. It’s ridiculous in this day and age to have the valley cut off from the outside world,” he said.

Eircom had estimated the cost of a fixed line service to the valley at €650,000 which, Cllr Healy-Rae said, was not over expensive.

“A fixed line system is the only way to sort this problem out,” he said.

County manager Martin Riordan said the council was working with development organisations to find an alternative phone strategy for the valley.