Lives 'endangered' by state of busy Mayo roadway

A REGIONAL road with 76 bends between Keenagh (Crossmolina) and Derrycoosh (near Castlebar) is literally driving road users around the bend.

Difficulties and delays in accessing Mayo University Hospital by the people of Erris as well as damage to road vehicles were some of the issues highlighted at a public meeting which was specially convened in Keenagh to discuss the dire state of the R312 Belmullet to Castlebar road.

It was decided at the meeting that both Shell and Bord Gáis should be asked to make contributions towards improvements on a route described by one public representative as being ‘built for the horse and cart era’.

Lots of public representatives spoke at the meeting but the most emotive and telling contribution of all came from a woman  living in the general Keenagh area who is looking after a profoundly disabled daughter.

'She has to be kept at home from day service because of the state of the road,' the woman, whose anonymity we are preserving, stated.

The speaker, whose contribution was greeted with loud applause, added: 'I have to get carers into my home to look after my daughter. As a result she cannot access the only unit for profoundly disabled people in the county.'

The woman then outlined how a young mother-to-be from Belmullet had to be kept in hospital (in Castlebar) for longer than would normally be necessary due to the state of the road.

'There was fear that her life and that of her baby could be lost. People at the top don’t seem to be aware of the impact (this road) is having on people’s lives. We’re the people who have to go out on that road every day.'

Local politicians who attended and spoke at the meeting, which was organised by Keenagh Community Development Association, included Deputies Dara Calleary and Michelle Mulherin and Councillors Michael Kilcoyne, Rose Conway-Walsh, Lisa Chambers, Blackie Gavin, Gerry Coyle, Michael Loftus, Michael Holmes and Annie May Reape.

  Councillor Coyle agreed the road is ‘an absolute disgrace’ but maintained the government was supporting its improvement in every way possible. 'It (road) was built for the horse and cart,' the FG representative commented. 'If you went on it now in a horse and cart you’d be done for cruelty to animals.'

*Full report in this week's issue of The Connaught Telegraph.