Kerry County Council has unanimously decided to oppose the closure of Valentia Island's coastal radio station, in support of a campaign by islanders.
The councillors described the move to close the station as 'anti rural thuggery by Dublin-based bureaucrats'.
The Coast Guard and the Department of Transport are proposing to close Valentia's coastal radio station as well as Malin Head radio station, and then combine both in a new station at an urban location.
Kerry County Council has decided to form a joint approach with the Donegal County Council against both of the proposed closures.
Kerry County Manager Tom Curran described the Department of Transport's proposal as 'ridiculous' and having no logical reason.
Mr Curran told Kerry County Council this morning that it was frustrating and a vote of no confidence in the county when it is trying to create highly skilled jobs. He said the county is having the rug pulled from under it by a policy with no logical reason and that does not make sense.
Together with the Mayor of Kerry, Mr Curran had met a delegation of islanders protesting against the proposed closure and the removal of operations to an urban centre.
The islanders see the closure attempt as anti-rural bias, particularly as the Coast Guard proposal suggested that staff and their families would have better lifestyles in an urban centre.
The ESB and Eircom have contradicted Coast Guard claims that technology at Valentia is outdated.
Valentia Island was where the first transatlantic telegraph cable was landed and the islanders are very proud of their involvement in maritime radio services and emergency rescues.
