Kerry County Council has issued an unprecedented appeal for people not to travel to Kerry over the Easter Weekend and to postpone their visit for the duration of the current COVID-19 travel restrictions.

Council Chief Executive, Moira Murrell issued the appeal to those contemplating travel to the county over the Easter holidays amid reports of people from outside Kerry visiting holiday homes here.

“Asking people not to visit our wonderful county runs contrary to every fibre of our being in Kerry,” she said.

“Tourism is the backbone of our economy. Visitors have traditionally come to Kerry in large numbers over the Easter period and they have always been welcomed to our county. We are aware of reports of people travelling to the county to holiday homes in recent days. This is not acceptable and is a breach of the very clear and strong guidelines issued by the National Public Health Emergency Team which require that people stay at home and do not travel beyond two kilometres of their home, except for very exceptional reasons as laid out in the guidelines.”

She said that this is a once-in-a-century public health emergency requiring everyone to play their part in curbing the spread of COVID-19.

“It is unprecedented that we would call on people not to travel to Kerry but when the current public health emergency is over, we will be ready to welcome visitors back to the county from all over the country and all over the world. Until then, we are asking people to observe the instructions and to stay at home.”