Paul McCartney

[ionnsaigh]

Apart from raising the area's profile - buying land, because he loves the place - what has this mega millionaire - done for Kintyre?. Should he be obliged to anything?. Why should he?.
I know if I was in his financial position. I would probably set up a business, employing Kintyre people. Or something along those lines. Has he done enough for Kintyre?.

[katya]

I have worked in the hospitality industry in Kintyre for many years and know that there are a huge amount of tourists who visit the area because of Paul McCartney. He may not have established any businesses here (bar the farms, of course), but he indirectly generates a very large income for the local economy.
Kx

[ionnsaigh]

That may be katya, however I for one - have yet to see the benefits at a local level. How many tourists are a huge amount ?. Isn't the tourist trade patchy inherently seasonal - apart from the golf.
I just feel that someone with his amount of both money and clout - should do a wee bit more - other than bathing in the tourist limelight - of a song sung thirty years ago.

[EMDEE]

Is it not the case that the reason he came to Kintyre in the first place was because it was so quiet and out of the way, and presumably therefore he would not want to turn it into a "Macca Mecca" and defeat the purpose of his presence there?

[ionnsaigh]

Absolutely EMDEE, I think Edinburgh Castle gets more visitors in one day - than Kintyre gets in a year. He must close his eyes when going through the town - or maybe he could not care less.

[A Horse called Juan Face]

I don't see why he should do anything really. Can see where you're coming from though. I see a lot.

[ionnsaigh]

At the end of the day could Mr McCartney - be described an Absentee Landlord?.
How many full time workers does he employ in Kintyre ?.
I think it would be fair to ask - how many farms - how much land ?.
How often does he visit Kintyre ?.
I feel that his fame as a musician - has tampered criticism. If he happened to be an oil rich Arab - perhaps criticism of wealthy individuals - who own roughly one quarter of Scotland - would be a much more voiced topic.
Make no mistake about it - Sir Paul could change Campbeltown - yet it seems - he prefers to let the place go to the dogs.
I will never understand why - for someone who reputedly loves the area - is prepared to sit back and do nothing.
I wonder if the views, the butterflies and hedgerows - mean more than the economic well-being of a people - and a ghost of a town. Where unemployment, low incomes, shops shutting left right and centre, appear to be the norm. If the historic trend of young people leaving the area continues - the chances of them returning continue to diminish. Unless of course they enjoy watching the sheep graze.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Just curious why you think he owes anyone anything. If he still owns land, seems as long as he pays his taxes and takes care of his property, why would he be more obligated than anyone else?

Never did understand why people think that just because someone has something that somehow they owe them. I bet there are people with a lot less than you who feel that you owe them, just because you worked harder, saved better, made wiser business decisions, or whatever. Ya think? (That isn't a trick question )

[TYM]

Paul McCartney has supported local causes in the past. However, the fact is that he did not want this to be publicised.

People here should first look to themselves to self-support their own economy and not look for hand-outs from others.

[ionnsaigh]

Paul McCartney has supported local causes in the past. However, the fact is that he did not want this to be publicised.

People here should first look to themselves to self-support their own economy and not look for hand-outs from others.

What were these causes ?. As you say he did not want this to be publicised- however you have to chosen to ignore this.
Now that his confidentiality has been broken - what where these local causes and what did he contribute?.
It's hardly a hand out - setting up a local profit making business - employing local people at top rate.

[Bobbie En Tejas]

Lets not talk about Paul and how he can spend his money.. let's decide how Ionns should spend his!

[chuckncherry]

Paul McCartney has supported local causes in the past. However, the fact is that he did not want this to be publicised.

People here should first look to themselves to self-support their own economy and not look for hand-outs from others.

I completely agree!

[maxmix]

Paul McCartney has supported local causes in the past. However, the fact is that he did not want this to be publicised.

People here should first look to themselves to self-support their own economy and not look for hand-outs from others.

Good post...

What do you actually want to see from Sir Paul ?

maxmix

[ionnsaigh]

The back of him - and all the other absentee landlords .

[£3.73]

Ionns,

There is (surely) hardly a person in the known world who would begrudge SIR Paul McCartney a single penny of his substantial wealth (which he chose to get heavily taxed on rather than flee abroad like many) ... it's not like he inherited either the peerage or the dosh from his nameless great great great grandfather ... who exploited the peoples of the colonies. No, this is a man, who wrote songs which provided a soundtrack for many peoples lives.

The only thing I find more distasteful than this thread, are people who are ignorant enough to go can rattling in his general direction. It was probably inspired the 1st time, but it wears kinda thin after the nth attempt.

Despite the fact he has already put "Mull of Kintyre" on the map & given sizeable donations to local good causes ... HE OWES THIS PLACE NOTHING !!!

Leave him alone, and away back to reading Tommy Sheridan's memoirs: "It's all about me : How to Galvanise Gullible People Who Have Huge Chips on their Shoulders" ....