Public lighting concerns prompt fatality warning in Rathmore

A warning has been given that someone will be killed by a vehicle in a Cork/Kerry border town because of poor public lighting and a lack of pedestrian crossings.

A deputation from Rathmore Community Council highlighted safety issues and expressed frustration at a lack of progress.

Introducing the deputation at a Killarney Municipal Authority meeting, Niall Kelleher (FF) said Rathmore was an important gateway to Kerry and deserved the same standard of infrastructure as other gateway towns.

Spokesman Brian Kelly said €216,000 had been spent in the town, including funding from IRD Duhallow and a €50,000 local contribution.

But, while appreciating NRA traffic calming measures on the western side of the town, he said much more needed to be done in Rathmore itself.

“Must there be a fatality before these issues are sorted?’’ Mr Kelly asked.

Another deputation member, John O’Neill, compared public lighting to that in neighbouring Millstreet and Knocknagree “where you could pick a needle off the street at night’’.

Senior executive engineer Paul Neary said there was a lack of funding, but pressure would be kept on the NRA, asafety audit drawn up, and there was a good chance a pedestrian crossing would be approved this year. He said €420,000 had been provided this year for overlay work.