Wagons cover up during wet weather

It’s not so much paint your wagon as cover your wagon these days in Killarney, in a bid to respond to the town’s monsoon conditions over consecutive summers.

Jarveys are covering their “wagonettes” after the wet weather threatened to dampen enthusiasm for the traditional way of seeing Killarney.

The Killarney Horse and Carriage group, formed over a year ago by 15 jarveys to promote trips collectively, investigated possible designs over the winter. “We’re trying to improve the comfort of the customers and to maintain our business,” said spokesman Pat Joy.

The wood all-weather hood and side covering is modelled on a design that had been in place formerly for larger two and four-horse coaches operating when every respectable hotel in town had its own horse and coach transport.

Mr Joy is the third generation of his family to jarvey.

“With the last couple of seasons being so wet, we were considering some modifications but we wanted to maintain a traditional look,” he said.

The wagons were adapted over the winter months by Pat’s brothers Michael, who designed and made the steel framework and Liam, a carpenter, who fashioned the timber hoods.

See-through plastic awnings to be fitted on the sides were custom-made by the company which produces the dung-catchers which are proving a success with locals and visitors.

“Families were put off by the wet, especially for things like children’s parties,” said Mr Joy.

Those that have been introduced so far are proving a hit and the wagons covered and uncovered would all be rolling out for St Patrick’s Day, the age-old start to the tourist season in the town.