Viewpoint: Insanity in speed limit proposals

‘Does it have to take someone to be killed for some kind of common sense to take place?’

That’s one of several comments on a similar theme among the very strong reactions to proposals that speed limits on two country roads in Kilcullen be raised, writes Brian Byrne.

The key words in that one are 'common sense'. Because for anyone who knows the Sunnyhill Road and the Dunlavin Road road stretch immediately beyond the church, it makes no sense at all that speed limits be raised there from 60km/h to 80km/h.

And here are more key words. 'Anyone who knows'. It seems very clear that the people who have made these proposals simply don't know the locations. It seems to be what's called a 'desktop' exercise, changes scoped on a map with no reference to the actual conditions on those roads.

A look at the commentary with the mapped proposals confirms this. In both cases, Cllr Tracey O'Dwyer strongly opposed the suggestions to raise the limits. For Sunnyhill she notes the narrowness of the road leaving no room for driver error, and that she 'cannot stress enough' the importance of actually reducing the limit to 50km/h, as has been the local campaign for 17 years.

On the Dunlavin Road side, the councillor references the 'high impact accidents' which have taken place due to the speed and topography of this particular stretch of road, which twists and bends creating many blind spots.

But … the Council's Traffic Section has a 'rubber stamp' reason to increase the limit at both locations: 'In accordance with Section 7.2 of Speed Limit Guidelines, these sections of road should be default 80km/h as the level of development density is below the requirement for applying an urban speed limit of 60km/h'.

That is public servants doing their job according to a book and not according to reality on the ground … or, in this case, the road.

For the Sunnyhill Road, which was last modified for an expectation that the level of traffic might be 30 vehicles an hour, the reality is that the rate is now ten times that. And a large chunk of the traffic is big trucks. Walkers, cyclists, and other motorists are all at risk of injury or worse on a daily basis.

On the Dunlavin side of Kilcullen, residents are only too well aware of the speeding issues, and the actual accidents that have happened, including one fatality in recent years.

That the rubber stamp excuse of 'level of development density' is used in these cases, and presumably in other communities across the county, is unacceptable. Worse, it is 'ridiculous' and 'insane', to quote some of the reaction the Diary has had to the proposals already.

Further, if these speed limits are pushed through, even against the wishes of the members of Kildare County Council, I expect that it would leave the authority, and even the unnamed staff in the Traffic Department open to a case of corporate manslaughter should there be a subsequent traffic fatality that could be attributed to speed beyond 60km/h.

No doubt there are legal safeguards in place against such an action, but they too could be challenged and overturned by a determined court process.

But before it ever gets there, the relevant members of the Traffic Department should be required to cycle both sections of road for a couple of hours in a normal day.

I doubt any of them would be spouting 'Section 7.2' after the experience.

LISTEN: Strong reaction to speed limits proposal. 

LISTEN: Speed limits proposal 'beggars belief'. 

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

August Summer Camps at KCCEC

Though the first week of the August Summer Camps at Kilcullen Childcare Centre is full, there are still a limited number of places for the second and third weeks, running from 9-20 August.

Open to children aged 3-12 years, the activities lined up include Hawaiian and Electric Picnic Party, Face Painting, a BBQ, Giant Outdoor Games, Hawaiian Limbo and more.

Sessions are 9am-1pm at €15 per child per day or 9am-3pm for €20. Weekly rates are €70/€90 and there are discounts for families.

Call 087 2178217 or drop in to KCCEC for information and booking.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Weatherday: Dropping the Banner

The Giant's Causeway, Co Antrim.

Cloudy through the day. Possibility of some bright spells later in the afternoon. Light westerly breeze and temperatures up to 18deg.

On this day in 2007, the British Army left Northern Ireland after almost 38 years of 'Operation Banner', the longest continuous deployment in the army's history.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Specs found in playground

Missing your leopardskin glasses case and specs? These were found in the playground. Phone 087 6336942 to recover.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Council seeking information on Holy Wells

St Brigid's Well in Kilcullen, and a story written about it in 1937 by Eileen Dowling, aged 13, for the Schools Folklore Project.

Information on Holy Wells in County Kildare is being sought by Kildare County Council, writes Brian Byrne.

Any information received will be added to the Kildare Holy Wells database, and there will be a publication and a digital map produced as a result.

The project is led by County Heritage Officer Bridget Loughlin and is funded by the Heritage Council under the County Heritage Plan Fund. It is being undertaken in cooperation with the Kildare Library Service and Archaeology Plan.

There are over 70 known Holy Wells in County Kildare but the project believes there may be more.

An online survey is being used to provide the information, and it can be accessed here. 

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

The passing of Fiona Shanley, nee Berney

The Diary has learned of the death of Fiona Shanley nee Berney, of 'Oakgrove', Courtown, Gorey, Co Wexford and formerly of Gilltown, Kilcullen, on Thursday 29 July 2021.

Pre-deceased by her parents Vera and Tom Berney, Fiona's passing is deeply regretted by her husband Brian, her son Stephen, and siblings Grainne, Deirdre, Aisling, Tommy, and John, and the extended family.

She will be reposing at her home on Saturday from 4pm–9pm, and removal will take place on Sunday to Our Lady Star of the Sea Church, Riverchapel, Co Wexford, for Funeral Mass at 12.30pm. Burial will follow afterwards in the adjoining cemetery.

For those who cannot attend the funeral, Mass can be viewed live on the following link: www.churchservices.tv/riverchapel. Social distance rules will apply in residence, church and cemetery.

The family very much appreciate your support and co-operation during this very sad and difficult time and would be grateful if you would express your messages of condolence on RIP.ie.

Family flowers only, please. May she rest in peace.

Weatherday: Still waiting on that train

Showers through the morning and afternoon will clear later. Bright spells this evening.

Temperatures up to 19deg in light to moderate northwesterly winds.

On this day in 2000 a full-scale underground metro transport system was announced for Dublin.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Strong reaction to proposed speed limit changes

The confirmation this week that two stretches of road in the Kilcullen area are proposed to have speed limit increases from 60km/h to 80km/h has drawn a strong and very critical reaction from residents. The locations are the Sunnyhill Road and the Dunlavin Road just outside Kilcullen. Click on the report above, produced by Brian Byrne.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

The Potting Shed is at Burtown House on Sundays

When Ciara Durham from Carnalway in Kilcullen set up her Potting Shed stall at the Sunday Burtown House Food & Craft Market last week, it was the latest stage in an aptly organic growth of her business, writes Brian Byrne.

The stall, selling plants and decorative plant and floral arrangements, was the last thing she had expected to be doing just a year ago. But like for so many others, the pandemic had necessitated a directional move from the workshops small business she began developing from her home some four years ago.

"They were wreath-making workshops, organised around times like Christmas, which I had to stop doing when the pandemic hit," she says. "So I began making wreaths for people to order."

That led to a pop-up shop last Christmas which was very successful. At Easter she did similar seasonal arrangements to order, and then branched out into funeral flowers and bouquets. The reaction prompted her to try out a stall, and she had such a lovely day last weekend that she's back at Burtown House this Sunday.

Ciara has lived in Carnalway for 20 years, having moved to Kilcullen from Dundrum. Her background was in retail, merchandising and marketing, and her lifetime love of gardening and having a potting shed at her country home provided her with place to 'escape' to while raising her family of three.

"They're now grown up and busy and I have more time, which gave me the opportunity to develop this business. I hadn't expected it to go this way, but we'll see how it develops."

The Sunday market at Burtown House has been operating since May. A small but special group of stall-holders have been attracting visitors from the south Kildare locality and also from further afield. With the famed gardens available and the weekend dining at the Green Barn booking solidly, it's a nice option for a Sunday morning.

And meanwhile back at The Potting Shed, Ciara will be, as regulations allow, continuing with the seasonal gardening courses and craft workshops where her business all started. 

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Bardons open for indoor dining

Bardons are now taking bookings for indoor dining.

They can be made at Bardons.ie.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Weatherday: Here be trouble

A sunny start to a day that will be breezy and fresh. Partly cloudy with sunny spells. Highest temperatures up to 18deg in moderate breezes from the west.

On this day in 2005, the formal announcement was made of the discovery of a 10th planet, beyond Pluto. Eris was subsequently designated a dwarf planet, named after the Greco-Roman goddess of strife.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Work on new path at Community Centre

Work has begun today on the new walkway which will join the Kilcullen Community Centre and Avondale Estate, writes Brian Byrne.

A joint project between Kilcullen AFC and the Centre, the all-concrete section now being built will replace the unofficial mud path and the gravel section between the all weather pitch and the Community Childcare Centre.

When completed it will join with a section of tarmac path recently laid by Kildare County Council contractors when they were upgrading footpaths in Avondale.

The concrete for the path is being donated by Kilsaran.

The joint venture follows the removal of a path around the AFC pitch which was in a bad state of repair. Removing it means the soccer club will be able to put two pitches where there is now just one.

Pictured are Centre Manager Enda O'Neill and AFC's Greg Curran.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Sunnyhill Road speed to be raised under proposals revealed today

Under the Speed Limits Review for the Kilcullen area, it is proposed to raise the limits on the Sunnyhill Road and Milemill Road from 60km/h to 80km/h, writes Brian Byrne.

The proposed changes went live for public consultation from Kildare County Council this morning at 9am, and submissions can be made until 25 August 2021 at 5pm.

In Brannockstown, a section of the road to Ballymore currently at 60km/h would be reduced to 50km/h under the proposals.

In May, the Diary reported by way of podcast the view of two local councillors about the proposals, those for the Sunnyhill Road being described as 'beggars belief'.

We will be following up this story over the next days as we get reaction from residents in the affected area.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

The passing of John Mulhall

The Diary has learned of the death of John Mulhall, Saddlers Way, Kilcullen, and formerly O'Higgins Terrace, the Curragh, on 27 July 2021.

John was predeceased by his wife Teresa and his passing is deeply regretted by his daughters Michelle and Monique, sons Keith and Gary, brothers, sons in law, daughter in law, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

John will be reposing at his daughter Monique's residence in Ballysax (R56 X753) from 4pm to 8pm on Wednesday 28th. Removal from there will take place on Thursday morning to The Church of Sacred Heart and St Brigid, Kilcullen, arriving for 11am requiem Mass, with funeral afterwards to St Brigid's Cemetery, Kilcullen.

Due to current guidelines regarding public gatherings, a private family funeral will take place restricted to 50 people in the church. Those who would have liked to attend the funeral but due to current guidelines cannot, please feel free to leave a message of condolence for John's family at RIP.ie. 

The funeral Mass will be live streamed on www.mcnmedia.tv.

May he rest in peace.

Walk-in vaccination clinics for weekend

There will be a walk-in vaccination clinic at Punchestown this weekend for anyone aged 16 and over.

It is open to registered and non-registered people, and no appointment is necessary.

Photo ID will be required. The clinic times are Saturday July 31st, 9am to 12.15pm; Sunday August 1st, 1pm to 4pm; and Monday August 2nd, 9.15am to 12.15pm.

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy

Eilís's salon gets a new sign

A nice new sign for Eilís's hair salon. Is it the first business sign in town as Gaeilge?

(As I have been reminded, it isn't the first; An Tearmann was.)

Photographs use Policy — Privacy Policy