Jarveys urged to withdraw protest at Muckross House

JARVEYS have been urged to withdraw from their five-week protest outside the entrance to Muckross House in Killarney.

The call came from members of Kerry County Council over concerns about the protest outside one of the region’s main attractions.

The jarveys have been denied access to Killarney National Park because of their refusal to attach dung catchers to their traps.

There has been a sharp drop in visitors to Muckross House because of a reluctance by the public to pass protesting jarveys, a council meeting was told.

Cllr Michael Cahill said more than 30 staff at the restaurant and shop at the house were on protective notice as a result.

“There is no public support for the jarveys,” he said.

He said it was critical the jarveys desist from their protest during the visit of 800 German travel agents to Killarney.

Independent councillor Brendan Cronin said Environment Minister John Gormley was not going to back down on insisting the dung catchers be used.

“They are not nappies. They are canvas attachments to the frame of cart. They (jarveys) are going to have to face reality here. The national park is the people’s park and it it’s a national tourist asset,” Mr Cronin said.