*Kilmorane on the N68 Kilrush Rd between Edenvale and Ballyea.
DISCUSSION and concern is brewing in Ballyea over the vulnerability faced by road users.
A submission made by a group of Ballyea residents to the Ennis local transport plan to extend the pathway and cycle lane beyond Edenvale to Kilmorane Hill on the N68 Kilrush Road to the turn off for Ballyea was rejected, as the area was deemed to be outside the area covered by the plan.
Chairperson of the Ballyea Community Text Alert, Pat Meaney stated, “This one kilometre section is extremely dangerous for walkers and cyclists to access the town”. After their initial request was rejected, he explained they are now seeking the installation of a hard shoulder between Edenvale and Ballyea cross. “It would link all the built up areas of Newhall, Drimeen, Dromadrehid and Kilmorane Heights to Ennis and allow Pedestrians/cyclists to access the town safely. It would also make it much safer for those cycling/walking out from Ennis to Killone Abbey and the lake”.
Meaney added, “There is a lot of discussion and concern in Ballyea about this dangerous situation. This solution would make it much safer for Active Travel on foot or bike, from Ballyea to Ennis and vice versa. After all, it is only one kilometre of road. There is enough space in the grass verge to provide this. With parking spaces so scarce in Ennis now we need to make it safe for those who wish to leave the car at home and cycle or walk into town”.
At Monday’s meeting of Clare County Council, Cllr Tommy Guilfoyle (SF), Cllr Paul Murphy (FG), Cllr Tom O’Callaghan (FF), Cllr Clare Colleran Molloy (FF) and Cllr Antoinette Baker Bashua (FF), five of the seven Ennis MD councillors tabled a joint motion on the topic. Meaney and local Ballyea residents including 2024 local election candidate Susan Griffin (GP) were among those in the public gallery.
They called on the Council to “urgently engage” with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) and relevant stakeholders “to install hard shoulders on the N68 Kilrush Road between Edenvale and the junction with the Ballyea Road (L-4166)”. They stressed, “This intervention is necessary to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists accessing Ennis or starting their journey west to the towns, villages, and townlands in the surrounding countryside”.
Senior engineer with the Council, Cyril Feeney stated, “We will discuss the issue with Transport Infrastructure Ireland and also include the location in our upcoming strategic review for investment in roads in county Clare”.
An intervention “is necessary to improve safety,” Cllr Guilfoyle commented. He said over 250 signatures have been secured by the people of the area in a petition. “This is a one kilometre stretch of road which we can make far safer”.
Mayor of Clare, Cllr Murphy noted, “a lot of the people in the gallery are neighbours of mine and I know you but I also cycle the road and you are taking your life into your own hands, it is too narrow, too fast, too dangerous”. Pedestrians and cyclists “are vulnerable” when travelling on “a busy stretch” of road like this, Cllr O’Callaghan flagged.
Elected members have had to maintain a lot of “patience” when dealing with bodies like TII, Cllr Colleran Molloy advised. “The Director has a great relationship with TII and hopefully we can get it rectified,” she added. “This is a recurring issue for many years, we have worked to get an improvement with proper stop signages, the hard shoulder was always brought up as an issue, when the roadworks the hard shoulder was taken away, we need to ensure it is addressed”.
Heavy goods vehicles are accounted on the road but not cyclists or pedestrians when it comes to space, Cllr Baker Bashua highlighted. The daily risks taken by road users in Ballyea are “unacceptable,” she remarked. “It has been documented how serious incidents like vehicles leaving the road, without a hard shoulder cyclists and walkers are facing constant risks, this is a hazard”.
Hard shoulders were taken away “and we fought vigorously not to do it,” Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) recalled. “Things have changed, we need a national policy change,” he said when pointing out drivers who overtake cyclists dangerously are liable for a fixed charge of €120, and could have three penalty points added to their licence. “If we’re serious about keeping cyclists safe this is something we need to do,” he added.
Support was voiced by Cllr Pat Daly (FF) who welcomed members of the Ballyea public to the meeting. “This road design is 20 years old, the amount of new increased traffic on the road, the whole environment has completely changed, the way people drive and cycle now,” stated Cllr Michael Shannon (FF) who acknowledged road safety was “a bone of contention” from Edendale to Darragh.
TII are to meet the Council over safety concerns in nearby Darragh, Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) noted. “Everybody is concerned with the N68 because of the danger to pedestrians,” he added while confirming he has asked the Superintendent in Ennis to “further look at the situation”. Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) was hopeful “the necessary change” would be implemented.
Ballyea’s position on the fringe of electoral areas should not see it suffer, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) stressed. “It is difficult for communities living at the edge of the boundary of our MD, it is important the two Municipal Districts come together. Active Travel is very important but where it can benefit communities on the fringes of town and ensure people travel safely it must be favoured”.
