The people of Castleisland in Kerry have a long association with the Volkswagen Beetle.
The original Volkswagen (VW) Beetle was produced to be the people's car,
So much so that it became the biggest-selling car ever in Ireland.
Fifty years after a new edition of the Volkswagen Beetle came to Ireland the car still holds a special place of affection for many Irish people, particularly those in Castleisland, County Kerry. Anecdotally there are more Beetles in Castleisland than in the rest of the country.
Volkswagen Beetle enthusiast Pat Moriarty from Castleisland presumes the regard for the car stems from Divane's garage , the second-longest established VW dealership in the country.
Manager of Divane's Denis Divane recalls his father took on the VW agency in Kerry on 15 June 1955. The first Beetle sold by Divane's is still running and the dealership still has one of the last batch of 1978 Beetles which was never sold and has only 26 miles on the clock.
Pat Moriarty has the option of driving a 1998 car but prefers his Beetle,
It's a bug, you get hooked up in it, the more I drive the Beetle, the more I like the Beetle.
For the uninitiated, Pat Moriarty explains the popularity of the Beetle locally. The brand is synonymous with quality, reliability and durability so is,
Very, very suitable for Kerry roads and Kerry people.
Jimmy Coffey from the Gap of Dunloe bought his first Beetle from Divane's in 1971 for £800. His constant loving care ensures the car's enduring roadworthiness.
Jimmy Coffey’s nephew James Coffey explains,
He's not a married man, he takes good care of the car and if he had a wife she'd be a very, very clean woman.
James Coffey knows that no amount of money could persuade his uncle to part with his Beetle.
A 'Nationwide' report broadcast on 3 March 2000. The reporter is John O'Driscoll. The presenter is Michael Ryan.
