Brian McCarthy the first Corkman to receive Kerry person of year award

A civic reception has been given to a global entrepreneur who has kept his feet firmly on Kerry soil where he grew his tiny operation into a world-leading brand.

Kerry celebrated the 150th anniversary of the start of global communications on Valentia island with the transatlantic cable this week — and it is fitting that financial services company Fexco should be honoured at this time, chief executive Moira Murrell said.

“There is a huge decline in population in the south of the county and this is why Fexco is so important in sustaining the economy in this part of the world,” Ms Murrell said.