KERRY GIFT CARD: A new Kerry Gift Card was launched this week by Kerry Chambers and Kerry County Council. Pictured were: Killarney Chamber President Paul Sherry with Tralee Chamber President Kevin McCarthy and the Mayor of Kerry, Councillor Patrick Connor-Scarteen. Photo: Domnick Walsh

By Michelle Crean

In a show of unity to support businesses in the county, the collective Kerry Chambers and Kerry County Council this week launched The Kerry Gift Card to encourage people in Kerry to shop locally and spend locally.

The card will be available to the public in the coming weeks and a call is being made to businesses across the county to register their interest and sign up to participate in the new programme.

Operated by One4All through Tralee Chamber, the Kerry Gift Card will be available for businesses right throughout the county and will allow shoppers to spend money in their outlets and on their services.

“Kerry Chambers and Kerry County Council have been working closely together in recent months on practical and meaningful ways in which businesses can be supported through the current economic difficulties," Mayor of Kerry, Councillor Patrick Connor-Scarteen, said.

"This new Kerry Gift Card is an ideal way for people in the county to support their local shops and businesses."

Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell, encouraged businesses to sign up and get involved.

"For every Euro spent locally, local jobs are being supported, local employers are being supported and the wider Kerry economy is being supported for all our benefit. I would urge Kerry businesses to sign up and participate in this worthy campaign."

Ken Tobin, CE of Tralee Chamber added that they had originally been looking at launching this card for just the Tralee area to replace the outgoing voucher programme.

"However, through discussions with our colleagues throughout Kerry it became very evident that we needed to all come together to support the entire economy of Kerry. As a county we are very focused now on rebuilding our economy, and this card will be a vehicle that allows the public to support local businesses of all sizes everywhere in Kerry.”

Paul Sherry of Killarney Chamber said that “it is vital that once this card is launched that the corporate sector, and members of the public use this card to support local businesses".

"When it comes to Christmas gifts, birthday presents and rewarding staff then the Kerry Gift Card is the only option that ensures the money stays within the county.”

Businesses will be contacted by email during the coming weeks by the various Chambers in Kerry to introduce them to the One4All team, and businesses interested in signing up straight away should email ken@tralee.ie for further information.