Farranfore prepares for a future of commercial independence

AS compliments go it was as impressive as it was rare.

Last month, Ryanair chief executive Michael O’Leary paid an unexpected tribute to Kerry Airport by forecasting that it alone of the country’s six regional airports had a commercial future.

Rather than being a direct criticism of the management of other airports, O’Leary’s observation was a reflection on the fact that Kerry’s distance from Dublin and its location at the heart of the republic’s main tourist region give it several natural advantages over its competitors.