Connect with us

News

Killarney businessman swaps car for scooter to beat traffic

Published

on

O

One Killarney businessman has come up with a novel way of dealing with the town’s crippling traffic problem: he has ditched his car in favour of a nifty scooter.

Fed up with trying to get around town during the busy tourist, Frank Doran of Safeguard Security decided to buy a scooter so he could bypass the long lines of traffic that plague Killarney throughout the summer months.

“We offer a 24-hour service and we need to get to people’s properties pretty quickly in the event of a burglary or fire alarm activation,” Frank explained. “The traffic is so frustrating around different parts of the town. It’s definitely worse this year. Last year was bad, and that’s what prompted me to think about getting a scooter, but this year has been hectic. If you’re out the Fossa side and you’re trying to get in towards town, you come up Mission Road and it’s bumper to bumper. It can take you back as far as the cathedral sometimes and it moves at a snail’s pace.

“It’s the bane of our lives, really.”

The TEIR 1 report, which was released earlier this year, highlighted the town’s intertwined traffic and parking issues as major concerns but Mr Doran says it’s time for action, not words.

“I know the council are trying to do the best they can and they’ve done lots of surveys, but nobody seems to be coming up with any ideas,” he said. “You wonder, what’s the point of these surveys?

“It’s a marvellous town and we’re probably victims of our own success in that regard. I understand that Killarney is probably unique with the amount of visitors who come here but we still need to be able to get around and manage our town better from a traffic point of view.

“I think if a number of businesspeople – who see what’s happening each day of the week – in conjunction with the council and the gardaí could set up a committee to look at the problem, it might be a far better option. They’re doing surveys for a number of years now but we’re still no better off. Somebody needs to do something.”

Mr Doran is just one of a large number of residents and business owners who have expressed their dismay at the traffic in Killarney this summer. It appears as though long tailbacks on Muckross Road, Lewis Road, Mission Road, Rock Road, Park Road and the Cork Road, among other places, have left locals at the end of their collective tether. Fair play to Mr Doran for thinking outside the box but for many Killarney people alternative transportation isn’t an option.

Hopefully this worrying issue isn’t swept under the carpet as things get quieter and we approach the off-season. Surely now is the time to address it head on; it can’t be left until next summer when things get out of hand again.

Advertisement

News

Irish-language short film award added to film festival

Published

on

By

Kerry International Film Festival (KIFF) will return to Killarney from October 16 to 19, and this year’s event will include a new award category – Best Irish Language Short Film.


The new award aims to highlight the growing presence of Irish language filmmaking.


It will be judged by Máire Ní Chonláin, TG4 Commissioning Editor and executive producer of An Cailín Ciúin, which was nominated for Best International Feature Film at the 2023 Academy Awards.


Ní Chonláin brings decades of experience in commissioning, producing and acquiring both scripted and unscripted content.


She co-commissions drama through TG4’s Cine4, Tús, Céim Eile, and Gealán schemes, and is also behind TG4’s long-running country music programming.


KIFF already presents 10 short film awards each year, including Best of Kerry and Best Documentary Short. The new Irish language award adds further recognition for a growing sector in Irish film.


Submissions for this year’s festival close on July 31 via FilmFreeway.


KIFF is supported by Kerry Airport, The Arts Council of Ireland, Kerry County Council, Fáilte Ireland, and a wide range of local businesses.

Attachments

Continue Reading

News

Buckley leads National co-drivers’ standings ahead of Sligo Rally

Published

on

By

Buckley leads National co-drivers’ standings ahead of Sligo Rally

Rockfield co-driver Shane Buckley sits at the top of the Triton Showers Motorsport Ireland National Rally Championship co-driver standings heading into this Sunday’s Sligo Stages Rally.

Buckley, who was due to partner Sam Moffett in a Hyundai i20 R5 in Sligo claimed fourth overall on the Raven’s Rock Rally two weeks ago — a result that pushed him into the lead of the standings with 61 points after four rounds.

However, the championship allows for dropped scores, and when those are applied, Buckley trails rival Tom Murphy by a single point. Murphy has 50 points to Buckley’s 49, meaning the second half of the season is set up for a close title fight.

Sam is now unavailable for the Sligo Rally but Buckley has teamed up with promising Donegal driver David Kelly in a Volkswagen Polo R5. They placed a late entry and will carry 171 on the doors but will run inside the top ten on Sunday.

Several Kerry crews are also entered for the Sligo Rally this weekend. Mike Quinn and Kieran Doherty return in their familiar Mk2 Escort, running in Class 14. Dave Slattery and Denis Coffey, also in a Mk2 Escort, are entered in Class 13.


Mossie Costello, is entered a Fiesta Rally4 and will contest Class 2.


Eugene Buckley and Aaron Williams complete the Kerry Motor Club representation in a Toyota Starlet (Class 9).


Killarney Co-Drivers in Down Rally
While the focus is on Sligo this weekend, two Killarney co-drivers will be in action on Saturday’s Down Rally.


Elaine Ní Shé is navigating for Richard O’Lone in a Ford Fiesta Rally3, and John McCarthy is on the notes for Banbridge’s John Devlin in a Mk2 Escort.

Continue Reading

Last News

Sport