Connacht Tribune
Connemara roads branded a ‘death trap’
Connemara roads ‘are a death trap’ and a real disincentive for anyone to invest in the region, a local councillor has warned.
Cllr Pádraig Mac an Iomaire (FG) said at a Connemara Area Council meeting that on parts of the main R336 coast road, two trucks couldn’t pass and yet no progress was being made with the upgrade of the route.
“This road is a death trap and is part of a huge problem across Connemara where the roads are in a very bad state.
“We’re being told we have to wait for the decision on the ring road around Galway city but many of us can’t see that happening. In the meantime, our roads are just being left behind.
“The question has to be asked – who will invest in Connemara with the current state of our roads?” said Cllr Mac an Iomaire.
Cllr Eileen Mannion (FG), said that the delay in upgrading the R336 road was causing a lot of hardship and suffering in Connemara.
She appealed to people not to appeal any decision on the R336 when it would eventually get the go-ahead for an upgrade.
Cllr Tom Welby (Ind.) said that ‘something had to happen’ with the R336 in terms of its upgrade.
He said he was aware that there would be a problem in relation to some houses along the route but added: “that you can’t make an omelette without breaking an egg.”
According to Cllr Tomás Ó Curraoin, some of the driving on the Connemara roads ‘was suicidal’ with no patience being shown. “Someone will be killed,” he said.
Cllr Daithí Ó Cualáin (FF) said that the R336 was one of the busiest national roads in the region, but its upgrade was continuously being put back until a decision was made on the Galway city ring road.
“We’re ending up losing jobs and industry because we don’t have the roads infrastructure in place. We hear of continuing delays on any decision on the ring road [Galway city] – I would like to hear the view of the Green Party councillor [Alastair McKinstry] on the issue,” said Cllr Ó Cualáin.
Cllr McKinstry said that he agreed with the need for repairs and an upgrade of the R336, but this needed to be done on the basis of long-term planning. “The road is not up to scratch for all users,” he said.
Connemara Area Cathaoirleach, Cllr Seamus Walsh (FF) said that some of the driving on so-called rat-runs on Connemara roads – including the Furbo area – was ‘absolutely crazy’.
“I would advise parents not to let their children on bicycles to and from school. There’s no place to walk on those roads, not to mind cycling – it’s just not safe,” said Cllr Walsh.
Area Engineer, Damien Mitchell, said that the Council staff were as frustrated as the councillors in terms of progress being made on the R336.
He said that a decision from An Bord Pleanála on the Galway City Ring Road was due by November 19 next and while there were frustrations with such delays [ring road], it was important to get it all done properly.
“As regards the R336, we have gone to the Department on a number of occasions on this issue. We’re told that we will be starting from a clean slate so as regards traffic counts there’s no point in doing those until the project moves on,” said Mr Mitchell.
■ The R336 83km (c. 50 miles) road links Galway city to the N59 route at Leenane, via Barna, Spiddal, Inverin, Cashla, Screebe and Maam Cross.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
