Jarveys face ban by refusing to fit dung-catch device

IT was business as usual for jarveys in Killarney National Park yesterday, despite a warning they would be barred from the tourist attraction if they did not fit dung-catching devices to their traps.

Yesterday was the introductory day for the compulsory use of the devices on the horse-drawn cars, but the jarveys insisted they would not use them for safety reasons.

In recent years there has been growing criticism of horse dung on roadways in the park, which stretches for about 15 km from the town to Ross Castle and in the Muckross area.

The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) placed notices overnight in the park warning jarveys they should not operate without dung catching equipment.

Park officials noted the jaunting car numbers and it is understood the park management will issue these with warning notices.

Jarveys claimed they were in “no man’s land” because of the ongoing row. Up to 80 families are dependent on the traditional trade, seen as an integral part of tourism in Killarney for centuries.

Experienced Muckross jarvey Paudie O’Donovan said they had been advised by a leading veterinary expert the devices would throw the carriages and horses off balance.

Also, jarveys would not be able to obtain insurance if they put them on the horses, he added.

“It’s now up to the experts on both sides to come up with the best solution,” Mr O’Donovan said.

Another jarvey, Diarmuid Cronin, said the jarveys in Muckross provided a good and safe professional service and had an excellent track record. They did not want to endanger that with what they honestly believed would be a dangerous device and this was the advice leading veterinary expert had offered them.

However, the NPWS, which has offered to supply the first of the dung catchers, said it was not changing its position and was going to insist the devices are used.

Remarking it was difficult to understand the jarveys’ stance, the NPWS said it was entrusted to manage the park for the benefit of the people and had concluded the dung catcher was the best method.

It was cost effective and would benefit the environment, a spokesman added.

According to the NPWS public notices, only jarveys with valid licences, using jaunting cars equipped with dung catchers, can legally operate within the park.

The notices also said the department would be “left with little choice but to consider alternative approaches” if the dung catchers were not used.