*Helga Himmelsbach.
A NORTH CLARE widow has said she is still afraid to cycle on the road where her late husband was killed.
Twenty two people were present outside the Ennistymon offices of Clare County Council at lunchtime on Wednesday where they carried candles in memory of Jerry O’Connor, a Lisdoonvarna man who was killed outside Ballyvaughan at the end of July.
All four North Clare councillors, Cllr Shane Talty (FF), Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG), Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) and Cllr Liam Grant (GP) were in attendance.
Helga Himmelsbach, Jerry’s widow said, “there is still an unprecedented amount of rental and tourist cars on the road, to a degree that you still can’t walk or cycle safely”. When visiting Co Kerry, she noted “the amount of road signage is unbelievable, you compare it to Clare and there is nothing yet we have nearly overtaken Kerry with our tourist numbers”.
Buses and camper vans are not deterred from traversing routes such as Corkscrew Hill, “we have more buses and cars on the road because of the Cliffs,” she added.
“I’m here for my reason but I’m also here as an avid cyclist, I’m still frightened of my life to cycle passed the place where Jerry was knocked down because it is still not safe,” Helga admitted.
Both her and Jerry purchased electric bikes due to their awareness of carbon emissions, she recounted. “To be intimidated to cycle is a very poor reflection of the management of our county, 99% of our tourism is carbon and I haven’t heard of any constructive methods to veer away from carbon tourism”.
She continued, “I would hope there is swift action. I will definitely not go away. I will be there pushing from behind, it is unfathomable why Clare is so resistant to implement very practical advice”.
Chairperson of the North Clare Community Group, Tom Barrett commented, “all of us share this sense of grief, the loss of a friend and a family member”. He acknowledged that efforts are ongoing at Government level “to reduce speed limits on every type of road in North Clare”. He added, “the Government has done something which impacts the entire country and in a real sense a mark of respect to all families and people who lost those lives”.
He explained, “what we have said to Clare County Council is there are many examples of best practice, we have specifically chosen Kerry as an example, we are not asking you to be miracle workers and do what hasn’t been done before, we’re asking for best practice”. Sustainable tourism and the support for this principle by elected representatives was acknowledged by Tom.
A delegation of the group in attendance held a meeting with Clare County Council Director of Service, Leonard Cleary along with Cllr Talty, Cllr Killeen and Cllr Grant which commenced at 1pm on Wednesday.
