Hundreds attend bridge protest in Ballina-Killaloe

Hundreds of people attended a protest in Ballina-Killaloe on Friday evening last to show their opposition to the decision by the county councils in Clare and Tipperary to shut the local centuries-old bridge over the River Shannon to motorised traffic.

The highly controversial decision by the two local authorities came into force on Monday, July 28, as the two councils undertake what they say is a “trial pedestrianisation” of the bridge linking the two towns.

The trial is set to go on until Friday, October 17 and follows the opening in May of a new multi-million euro bridge over the Shannon about 1km downstream of the old bridge.

The community itself is split on the motorised traffic ban over the old bridge, with those against the move publicly displaying their opposition with Friday’s march over the crossing .

The main organiser of the protest was local community activist Eddie O’ Gorman who thanked all those who attended.

Speaking just after the protest ended, he said: “I want to thank you for coming out this evening in your hundreds to share your concern over what is happening in the town, particularly the issue of the closing of the bridge.”

Mr O’ Gorman said people from every walk of life came out to show their opposition to the trial pedestrianisation.

SIMPLE MESSAGE

Mr O’ Gorman said the crowd who turned up had one simple message for the two county councils: “Let me have my say in my own town,” was what they declared, asserted Mr O’ Gorman.

He added: “There is genuine concern, but we will use this evening as evidence that the people of Killaloe-Ballina want to have their say.”

Mr O’ Gorman, who contested last year’s local elections in the Newport Area as a candidate for Independent Ireland, said a plebiscite should be held in the community to allow people have their say on whether the bridge should be pedestrianised or not.

“It is the only way as far as I can see,” said Mr O’ Gorman, who said he would be contacting the CEOs from both county councils to “demand that we be listened to”.