Galway has wee discrepancy

The people of South and East Galway were unable to ‘spend a penny’ during the recent fine spell over Easter while those out west in Connemara were awash with toilets due to an unequal division of council resources in public amenities.

That was the complaint that rang out loud at this month’s Loughrea Municipal District meeting, with the charge being led by Cllr Anne Rabbitte who was vociferous in her criticism of the lack of facilities for visitors to the marina in Portumna.

Taxpayers had spent money on a marina, playground and swimming baths for the town but visitors would not stay if locks remained on the toilet doors.

“I have a team of people who would be willing to open them up if they just knew where to get the key,” she fumed.

The Fianna Fáil representative counted 22 camper vans and thirteen boats in the park over the bank holiday weekend, with at least 1,000 people in the area who were unable to spend a penny.

On further investigation, she discovered there was no public toilet opened in Athenry, one in Loughrea, but on a contract basis, one on the Long Walk, which was only open in July and August.

“West of the bridge in Connemara is awash with toilets. They were open in the likes of Clifden, Spiddal. What criteria is applied to opening toilets? We have a two-tier society if we can go over to Connemara and avail of these facilities. I will not wait until June for this to happen,” she exclaimed.

She said she had sent an email on the issue to Taoiseach Enda Kenny and Labour Minister Alan Kelly, who was a native of Terryglass, across the bay from Portumna.

“While my toilets are closed, I can wave across at him [Minister Kelly] and see the toilets open at Terryglass. The only ones not opened on the banks of Lough Derg are in Portumna, the other ones are operated by Waterways Ireland,” she stated.

See full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune.