Many Cork regions lost Celtic Tiger years ago

THE loss of thousands of jobs across the country has been well documented in recent months but, whereas others are feeling the cold hand of recession for the first time only this year, parts of Cork saw the Celtic Tiger shot and skinned many years ago.

In 2002, then environment and local government minister Noel Dempsey announced that Mallow and Youghal were among towns to be included in the Government’s RAPID programme, a scheme designed to heighten the identity of large towns and deal with areas of disadvantage within them.

However, it is largely felt that those two towns and many others like them have gained nothing from the designation.