Extra funds sought for Geevagh verges

The Council has been urged to act swiftly and identify the most dangerous spots along the road at Geevagh.

Councillor Chris MacManus told Director of Services Tom Kilfeather that costing roadside barriers was not enough to address the “massive concern” among residents along the road.

Cllr MacManus had asked the Council to investigate roadside barriers or other viable alternatives to prevent vehicles coming off the road on the R284 at Carrownadargney, Geevagh - but that was before a mini- bus full of teenage boys and an artic truck both went off the road into ditches in two separate accidents on Monday April 3.

“I don’t think that will address concerns with all due respect to the Director of Services. I understand the financial constraints he’s under. But here is no verge - in some places there’s over a 2ft drop off the road. The sides of the road are flooded, it’s a massive concern out there,” he said.

Tom Kilfeather said it was a “considerable stretch” of road and any solution would be expensive but said a cost estimate for barriers would be prepared by the Ballymote area engineer.

He said another vehicle caused the bus crash and didn’t stop: “Speed may have been a factor.”

“I do take your point that if it was a little bit further on we could have been looking at fatalities,” he said.

Cllr Thomas Healy proposed a motion calling on the Council to ask Transport Minister Shane Ross for funding for the Geevagh road.

Cllr Healy paid tribute to the community of Geevagh “that was there to stand by those lads and organise a bus”. Cllr Dara Mulvey said it was Cllr Martin Baker and himself who called for a traffic counter on that road: “It showed the need for speed reductions and the volume of traffic. It’s a major connecting road,” he added.