Kerry visitors urged to complain if intimidated

VISITORS to the picture postcard Gap of Dunloe, who are allegedly intimidated by some people in the pony business there, were yesterday urged to complain to the gardaí.

The seven-mile route is one of Kerry’s most popular tourist attractions, but a small number of pony operators have been accused of harassing visitors driving through the area.

Because of the poor state of the public roadway through the gap, it is stated to be unsuitable for cars and other vehicles.

Visitors may take a pony ride, or go by pony and trap, but don’t have to if they so wish.

The issue of intimidation was raised by Fine Gael councillor Pat McCarthy who proposed Kerry County Council condemn the actions of a small number of people involved. “This is more than intimidation. It is bullying,” he claimed.

While he had personally experienced intimidation there, he also knew of others including a Mayo couple who had been turned back from driving through the gap in 2004 and again this year.

“This is the last time this couple will visit Kerry because of the way they were bullied and intimidated.

“As far as I know, this is a public road and signs have been put up saying the road is not suitable for trucks or buses. But people are using these signs to give the impression that people are not supposed to drive though.

“This is a wrong impression to give and is no way to welcome tourists to Kerry. As a county council we must ensure this does not happen again,” said Mr McCarthy.

Kerry mayor Michael Healy-Rae said he took grave exception to the wording of the motion.

He believed it was unfair to tarnish all the pony operators because of some “very odd and isolated” incidents.

“I know that my uncle, or any of my first cousins in the Gap of Dunloe, never intimidated anybody,” said Mr Healy-Rae.

Senior roads engineer Paul Stack said the road through the gap was a public road through which people were entitled to travel.