Behind the Scenes Movement as Objections to Upper Main Street Plans Hold Firm

Upper Main Street residents and business people with Cllr. Fionnán Fitzgerald and Cllr. Charlie Farrelly at an informal meeting last month. Included are from left: Eileen Dowling, Jackie Brosnan, Kathleen O’Connor, John Lyons, Marie Lyons, Cllr. Fitzgerald, Cllr. Farrelly, Laura Dowling, Breda O’Connor, Aileen Lyons and Annette O’Connor. ©Photograph: John Reidy 13-8-2021

Around the middle of last month, Kerry County Council was left in no doubt that its proposals for a re-arrangement job on traffic flow at Upper Main Street here in Castleisland couldn’t or wouldn’t be acceptable or tolerable to the people of the locality.

The plans would see swathes of generations old parking spaces and rights abolished from in front of residents’ doors.

The plans revolved majorly around school-bus set-downs for the delivery and collection of children to and from the local schools.

Behind the Scenes Movement

A month on, there has been a lot of movement behind the scenes as local organisations and some political representatives endeavour to come up with solutions with the safety of the many school-children uppermost in their intentions.

Pieces of ground have been offered from here and there within the area of recent turmoil and political activism not seen for some time.

The Moonlighters and their famous founder and leader, Bob Finn may now be a distant memory but rest assured that the mentality that drove them is alive and well when the need arises.

A Need has Arisen

And a need has risen in this instance in this part of our beloved little town. For, it is clear to those who live here, any meddling with traffic in this area of the town will have woeful consequences in every street and lane throughout.

It is true that the area where College Road meets Main Street – in front of the old library – is used on a regular basis as a unofficial round-about.

Out of Sheer Necessity

That, in the main, is out of sheer necessity. But you will also have young men and women with flashy, noisy cars also using it to ‘tour the town’ at night while giving it the floor in terms of noise levels and exhaust fumes.

Local Gardai were pulling people up for that class of behaviour about 20 years ago and there was a bit of bother over it at the time.

An Garda Siochána

In fact, at around that time, I saw a fine in the possession of a member of An Garda Siochána here in town one night.

It was for an elderly man who was stopped doing what all the above mentioned are doing with abandon now.

He heard that the man was unwell and he binned the paperwork as a result.

An Garda Siochána was, and still is, populated by good, caring people who have to do things that go against the grain of their nature.

I must tell you sometime about the female garda I met in Listowel one night – she epitomised what I’m talking about.

Deadline on Monday at 5pm

Anyway, I was asked by Cllr. Charlie Farrelly to mention to and remind people that the deadline for responses regarding the Kerry County Council proposals will close on Monday afternoon, September 20th at 5pm.

A meeting of the Castleisland Corca Dhuibhne Municipal District Council will convene on Wednesday next, September 22nd and I have a feeling that  the top-of-the-town won’t be too far off the top of the agenda. 

Your feelings may be made known in writing and marked: Section 38 – Main Street, Castleisland, to:

The Administrative Officer, Roads, Transportation and Marine Department, Kerry County Council, Áras an Chontae, Rathass, Tralee, Co. Kerry or by E-mail to: roads@kerrycoco.ie

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