Kerry County Council has promised to explore the possibility of installing a pedestrian crossing at the entrance to Killarney AFC.
Kerry Independent Alliance councillor John O’Donoghue raised the matter again at the recent Killarney Municipal District meeting.
He stated that the club has almost 800 playing members, the vast majority of whom are juveniles who are driven to the grounds because it is unsafe to walk.
Councillor O’Donoghue said he is delighted that the club is doing well, with membership numbers booming at underage level, but noted this has not happened without difficulty.
He claimed that the Woodlawn Ballycasheen Road, on which the club is situated, is unsafe for children because traffic is busy there.
He alleged that parents who live nearby do not allow their children to walk to the club because of the danger of crossing the road.
He said this is contrary to Killarney’s current active travel aspirations but noted the club is eager to address the matter.
Seconding the motion, Councillor Maura Healy-Rae said it is hard to imagine a site more in need of a pedestrian crossing.
She said it does not make sense that the council could see fit to install up to five pedestrian crossings on Park Road but none on nearby Ballycasheen Road.
She said parents have no option but to drive their children to training.
Responding to Cllr O’Donoghue’s motion, council officials said they had visited the club recently and that there is no denying it is a busy area.
They said the Killarney MD office will collaborate with property owners in the area and Killarney Athletic FC to explore the possibility of installing a pedestrian crossing at this location.
They said traffic movements and the various road junctions in the area will need to be considered when they draft their proposal.
