Summer traffic chaos sparks call for 2027 action

Engineers from Kerry County Council were put under the microscope at Wednesday’s Killarney Municipal District meeting after Councillor Niall Kelleher called out the severe traffic congestion experienced across the town during the summer of 2026.

Demanding concrete interventions ahead of next year's visitor influx, Cllr Kelleher submitted a motion requesting: "That Kerry County Council carry out a review of traffic congestion experienced in Killarney during the 2026 summer season, identifying the principal congestion points and outlining what short-term traffic management measures can be implemented before the 2027 tourism season, together with the longer-term measures being considered to alleviate congestion in the town."
In a lengthy response, local authority management defended its current operations, pointing to recent infrastructure steps and night-time resurfacing projects designed to limit disruption.
Council officials stated: "Several measures have been implemented in recent years to improve traffic flow in Killarney town, in particular during the busy summer season. These measures include the erection of additional signs carrying traffic and parking information, the introduction of additional 15-minute set-down parking spaces, the roll-out of public transport through the bus stop enhancement scheme and the introduction by the NTA of the Anseo Bus service. For summer 2026, to improve traffic in and around Killarney town, essential upgrades were completed as night works. This resulted in the delivery of substantial resurfacing works on the national roads approaching and around the town and Uisce Éireann network upgrades within the town, while minimising the impact on road users."
Addressing major long-term developments, the council outlined a pipeline of major capital projects currently in development.
"In addition, there are a number of significant capital project upgrades progressing to planning and construction, as funding allows, that will improve traffic access to and around the town, including: The Greenlawn Car Park, Park Road Active Travel Phase 2, Borheen na Goun, the Strategic Link Road A-C and the N22 Daly’s Roundabout to Pike Hill. The N22 Farranfore to Killarney Road Project will relieve traffic congestion on the national network in Killarney in the long term. This project is advancing through the design and environmental evaluation process, which will continue through 2026 and 2027 ahead of a statutory application to An Coimisiún Pleanála," the council added.
However, with all of the major solutions offered by the local authority remaining years away in terms of funding, planning approval, and construction, Cllr Kelleher's push for immediate relief ahead of 2027 appears likely to yield little short-term change, leaving motorists to expect further gridlock next summe