Archive - Young people in Kilkenny are drinking far too much (1973)

A campaign for responsible drinking was recommended to the Junior Chamber in Kilkenny as a very worthwhile national programme.

It came from Mayor Michael McGuinness, who spoke at the annual Kilkenny JC dinner in the Newpark Hotel.

Plans for new veterinary clinic in Kilkenny

“The curse of the nation at the present time is drinking,” he said, “and unfortunately many young people are drinking far too much.

“I do not want you to think that I am against drinking - I am not. But there is no necessity for anyone to make a fool of himself at the bar and unfortunately that is what is happening far too often.

“I think it is high time that such bodies as Junior Chamber show example in their own areas. I would hope that the Chamber would lead a campaign to reduce the amount of drinking and, if possible, to cut out the idea of calling round for round and the ‘one for the road’ idea, which might well be one for the grave.”

Increase in Tourism
There was a 25% increase in enquiries and a 50% rise in bed nights booked during the season just ended, Mr William F Murphy (Graignamanagh) chairman, told the annual meeting of South East Tourism in the Ardee Hotel.

Mr Murphy said that 100,462,029 enquiries had been processed by the 15 tourists information officers maintained in the region and on the car ferry since the Board was set up in 1963.

On the development of tourism infrastructure the company had played a central role in projects like Cahir Castle, Dunmore Caves and the Barrow navigation. Indeed, the permanence, value and significance of the regional company's contribution to the overall industry had been nothing short of remarkable.

“Regional tourism” Mr Murphy said, “is a living, growing social concept. Growth presupposes change and evolution. We must not be afraid of change - rather we must welcome it.

“However, it is vital that changes, especially radical changes in structure must improve, not diminish the ability of South East Tourism to formulate and implement a policy which will have as its objective the optimising of tourist revenue in the South East region.

“There is a broad and strong sense of optimism that the bad years are behind us and tourism can now move forward again as a more vibrant and powerful industry having survived the commercial reverses of the last three years.”