Ballybunion closures a sign of economic recovery not felt outside Dublin

A seaside town which lost a hotel and a theatre in the same week has criticised the Government for ignoring rural Ireland. One councillor in Ballybunion, Co Kerry, said: “This so-called economic revival is only being felt in Dublin.”

Locals in the North Kerry town were stunned by the announcement that the Tintean Theatre, which opened 10 years ago, was to close.

It came just days after the owner of the Ballybunion Golf Hotel announced he was shutting the doors for good with the loss of 80 jobs.