While the rail dispute has not had a serious economic impact on Cork generally, it has damaged Cobh, in the east of the county.
The Cork/Cobh commuter rail link is vital for the development of tourism in the seaside town and its hinterland.
Day-trippers, family groups and longer-stay tourists have been staying away because of the uncertainty of the train service.
Their absence is hitting B&B proprietors, hoteliers, restaurateurs, the Cobh Heritage Centre, the international sailing school and the nearby Fota Wildlife Park.
The commuter train from Cork finishes its journey within yards of the heritage centre and before the strike was regarded as a clean, efficient service, ideal for family outings and school groups.
Now it is estimated that business generated by rail is down by as much as 20 per cent.
The heritage centre relies mainly on coach tours for its business, but hoped-for growth this year in rail visitors has already been stymied.
The Fota Wildlife Park is a few stops from Cobh and the rail link has proved highly popular with tourists, accounting for almost 10 per cent of gate admissions.
Business has been severely damaged by the rail strike and, according to Mr Fergal Kiniry, marketing manager at Fota, receipts may be down by more than £22,000 because of the dispute. Rail tour packages have been wiped out and school tours using the rail service have been cancelled.
Mr Eddie English runs the Cobh International Sailing Centre. The rail link to the town was an easy way for parents to get their children to and from the centre.
"Today, I have 13 juniors under instruction, This time last year I would have had 40. Our bistro, which is in its second year of operation, should be showing growth of between 20 and 25 per cent but we are barely holding our own. I put it down to the rail strike," he said.
The Cobh and Harbour Chamber of Commerce has sent a circular to its 230 members, including large and small businesses in the harbour area, to find where the dispute is hitting worst.
It has not surprised Ms Margaret Martin, chief executive, that tourism has suffered most.
"Lots of members, especially those involved in big business, didn't pinpoint an economic loss but complained about the inconvenience of making travel arrangements without train services. "Those involved in tourism, though, are suffering. The hotels doing Sunday lunches, the B&Bs that would expect people to drop in for a visit and stay over, Fota and the Heritage Centre, that's where the effects are hitting," Ms Martin said.
Mr Michael Geary, chairman of the Cork Chamber of Commerce, said no major losses had been reported by industry in Cork, now that the Irish Fertilizer Industries issue had been resolved, with 11 ammonia trains, out of the normal 17, travelling from Cork to Arklow each week.
Information coming to the chamber was that pockets of the tourism industry, such as the Cobh area, were being hit but in general there were no major losses.
Iarnrod Eireann said that revenue on the line had dropped by 70 per cent.