*Eddie O’Gorman and Richard Coonan at the protest. Photograph: Michael Quigley
“LET US have a say in our town” read the sign from protest organiser Eddie O’Gorman as hundreds gathered in Killaloe on Friday evening to demonstrate their opposition to closure of the old bridge to traffic linking the East Clare town with Ballina.
An estimated crowd of 400 partook in Friday’s protest which saw attendees meet at Clarisford Park before marching in their numbers across the old bridge to the Ballina side before returning to Killaloe.
Organised by Eddie O’Gorman, the protest arose after he said the neighbouring local authorities in Clare and Tipperary ignored the wishes of local people when introducing a trial pedestrianisation. He is now seeking a plebiscite be organised to gauge the views of locals on whether the bridge should be closed to traffic.
Introduced last Monday (July 28th), the trial period runs until Friday October 17th. The trial, provided for under Section 38 of the Road Traffic Act 1994, aims to pilot a more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly route on the old town centre bridge between Killaloe and Ballina. Proposals were first mooted in the Killaloe-Ballina Town Enhancement and Mobility Plan.
Following completion of the trial period, and having regard to the submissions made, consideration of national, regional and local policy and an appraisal of all data gathered, it is anticipated that in October, both Tipperary County Council and Clare County Council will make a determination on the future arrangements and pedestrianisation of the old 18th Century bridge.
More transparency and consultation is needed from the local authorities, Eddie said. He contested the 2024 local elections in the Newport electoral area representing Independent Ireland, he polled 594 votes and was eliminated on the third and final count.
He explained, “This protest is our way of saying once and for all, ‘lads listen to us. Talk to us, were not unreasonable – we’re nice people’. We have had unrestricted travel from Killaloe to Ballina for close on 400 years along that bridge and the previous bridge, and what’s being proposed is restricted travel. My problem is we’re not being asked if we want it or do not want it” .
According to O’Gorman, local public representatives who spoke up for those against the pedestrianisation of the bridge were ignored. He does not trust either Council that the trial is only temporary.
Matthew Moroney who contested both the General and Local Elections in Clare last year was among those in attendance along with Ballina based Cllr Phyll Bugler (FG) who has come under fire from colleagues in East Clare most notably Cllr Pat Hayes (FF) for her communication on the trial period.
Speaking following the protest, Eddie thanked the people of Killaloe and Ballina “for coming out this evening in your hundreds to share your concern over what is happening in the town, particularly the issue of the closing of the Bridge.
People from every walk of life came out to say ‘Let me have my say in my own town’. There is genuine concern but we will use this evening as evidence that the people of Killaloe/ Ballina want to have their say, and a plebiscite is the only way as far as I can see, I will be contacting the CEOs from both County Councils and demand that we be listened to”.
