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County accident blackspot to get speed limit under latest review
Galway Bay fm newsroom – An accident blackspot in the county looks set to get a new speed limit.
Members of Athenry/Oranmore Municipal District Council discussed the draft speed limit review at its meeting this week and one of the areas discussed was Bawnmore.
A number of roads around the county look set to have different speed zones if the full county council passes the changes at a meeting later this month.
Among the speed limits will be a zone of 50 kilometres at Bawnmore to extend beyond Cregg cemetery and a 60 kilometre zone on approach roads.
Councillors have also agreed to change what they call a ‘speed trap’ at Two Mile Bridge on the N83, which was the old N17 at Roadstone from 60 to 100 kilometres per hour limit.
Another notable change will be a 60 kilometre zone from Carnmore Cross to the Lydican junction and 80 kilometre per hour speed limit for the rest of the Claregalway Road from Carnmore.
The speed limit at Annagh Hill, which was previously 100 kilometres per hour will be reduced to 80.
Some councillors voiced concern that speed limits are not being introduced on local roads which have become rat runs, but the council executive said other traffic calming measures might be more appropriate.
In relation to rat runs, Chairperson of Municipal District Council, Frank Kearney says it’s important that the relief road for Claregalway is put back on the government agenda as a priority because the area is still experiencing heavy traffic volume despite the opening of the M17/M18 motorway.
Councillor Martina Kinane said that if Transport Infrastructure Ireland won’t allow some speed limit changes on roads, they should at least provide funds for motorist feedback signs.
The death has occurred of the former Bishop of Galway, Kilmacduagh and Kilfenora Martin Drennan, six years after he announced his retirement on health grounds. He was aged 78.
The Galway Diocesan Office confirmed the death this (Saturday) afternoon of the Bishop and Apostolic Administrator Emeritus, who oversaw the Diocese for eleven years.
Born on January 2, 1944 in Piltown, County Kilkenny, he studied for the priesthood at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, from where he was ordained to the priesthood in 1968. His brother Michael is also a priest.
Following his ordination, he continued his studies in Rome where he was awarded a Licentiate in both sacred theology and sacred scripture. He returned to Rome in 1980 to become spiritual director at the Pontifical Irish College for the next five years.
He became a lecturer in sacred scripture at Saint Patrick’s College, Maynooth, where he continued to teach until his appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of Dublin in 1997 with responsibility for East Wicklow and South Dublin.
Following the retirement of Bishop James McLoughlin, Bishop Drennan was appointed Bishop of Galway and Kilmacduagh and Apostolic Administrator of Kilfenora and he was installed on July 3, 2005 in Galway Cathedral.
Outgoing Cllr Terry O’Flaherty (Ind) is on course to retain her City Council seat – and top the poll in City East.
With 33% of the boxes tallied, Cllr O’Flaherty is polling strongly, particularly in Renmore.
Michael John Crowe is ahead of his running mate Alan Cheevers for the Fianna Fáil vote, according to the early figures, although that could change when Doughiska and Roscam boxes are opened.
The Green Party’s Claire Hillery is on about 7%, with Fine Gael on 10% and Sinn Fein on 5%.
The opening of boxes for the local elections began at 9am this morning in Leisureland when the tallymen (and women) kicked into gear.
As regards the Galway County Council elections, the smaller areas are being opened first which means that the four-seater Connemara North boxes will be first in the pecking order.
It will be followed by Gort-Kinvara (5 seats), Connemara South (5 seats), Athenry-Oranmore (7 seats), Ballinasloe (6 seats), Loughrea (5 seats) and finally Tuam (7 seats).
The boxes in these areas will be opened and tallied in that particular order before being transferred to the Galway Lawn Tennis Club on Threadneedle Road where the counting will commence around mid-morning.
That is when the fun will really begin – although the tallies should give a good indication as to where most of the seats are destined.
As regards the city, the Galway City East boxes were opened first, followed by Galway City Central and finally Galway City West. These votes will be transferred to the Westside Centre by around 11am for counting.
There are 39 seats on Galway County Council to be filled with 18 on Galway City Council. The City Council count is expected to conclude on Saturday night but the County Council count – with seven electoral areas to be filled – could well go into Monday.
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