Ponymen deny moves to keep motorists off road

PONYMEN who ply for hire at the spectacular Gap of Dunloe, near Killarney, yesterday denied claims they were preventing tourists from driving through the seven-mile gap.

But, they also maintained it was unsafe for visitors to drive there because of the poor state of the winding road, which is only eight feet wide in places.

Some tourists have claimed they were stopped by ponymen from driving their cars through the gap.

However, Kerry County Council confirmed the road is a public roadway and the public had right of way.

A spokesperson said the ponymen had no authority to stop people driving there.

The gap trip is one of the oldest in Killarney’s itinerary and visitors are expected to walk, take a pony ride or go by pony and trap.

Caherciveen bed and breakfast owner Alan Landers said he knew of Dutch tourists who were stopped from driving through the gap and told to turn back by some ponymen.

“This (gap) is a public highway. What’s happening there is like telling people they can’t drive on the Ring of Kerry,” he said.

Mr Landers said there appeared to be only one way for tourists to travel in the gap. One ponyman, who asked not to be named, said it was better if people did not drive through and they (ponymen) were trying to preserve the environment.

“The gap is also unsafe for cars as tourists have no experience of ponies and have been the cause of some serious accidents here,” he said.

“It would be better if they left their cars and walked.

“You need to have experience of ponies to drive on roads like this.”

In recent years, ponymen have found it difficult to get insurance cover, resulting in fears they would be put out of business.

One ponyman said that insurance was a “crippling” problem.