We will forever think of those who died
FOR more than 300 years, the Kerry pony and traps, known locally as jaunties, have been operating at The Gap of Dunloe.
Paul Cremin is one of the men who has been ‘living and breathing’ horses for more than 50 years on the edge of the Kerry Mountains.
He has been part of the ‘deep traditions’ of the pony-and-trap men and women all his life, spanning generations of his own family.
As he drove up the Gap of Dunloe in his jeep yesterday, the 61-yearold pony man told the Irish Daily Mail the ‘tragic’ accident, which claimed the lives of two American tourists this week, will forever haunt the other pony-and-trap men in the area.
He said: ‘What happened here on Monday was a tragic and freak accident. In over 300 years, there has never been anything like this happen here and, please God, it never will again.
‘I have been working as a jaunty driver for maybe 50 years at this stage and it’s a tragedy.
‘I can only describe it as a freak accident and my thoughts are with the family of the deceased and the pony man. I can’t imagine what they are all going through.’
Mr Cremin organised a prayer vigil on Tuesday evening at Kate Kearney’s Cottage, a nearby public house, to remember the dead. He said it was a small gesture which might help the families involved.
‘Look, sure, it’s an immense tragedy but unfortunately life will have to go on,’ he said. ‘We have not been working the past few days out of respect, but we will have to go back at some stage.
‘This was a freak accident and anything I drive past this spot [pointing to the accident spot], we will forever think of those who died.’
He continued: ‘There are around 30 pony-and-trap operators in the Gap of Dunloe and they have been deeply affected by this fatal accident. It’s been a huge shock to the area, and I wanted to say something as I have lived here all my life and worked this road. I hope we will never again have to witness such tragedy again.’
Mr Cremin does, however, feel that the road should be left for tourists and pony-and-trap men without traffic interruptions during designated hours.
He said: ‘It would be an idea to have a set period in the day where no traffic or vehicles are allowed pass the road.
‘As you can see it’s quiet today but on a regular day, hundreds of tourists are out and about. It would improve safety to limit the amount of traffic.’