Lack of investment costing lives and prosperity, say West Cork communities

Safety fears across Bandon, Innishannon, Bantry, and Clonakilty as traffic volumes escalate 

Traffic on the N71 in Bantry. Picture: David Forsythe

“You just have to stand by the road for a few minutes to get a sense of it, the cars speeding through, huge numbers of trucks, they shouldn’t be passing through a small village like ours,” says Joe Walsh, local resident and founder member of the Innishannon Traffic Action Group.

About 17km from Cork City, Innishannon is the first village you pass through heading west on the N71, the main route into West Cork.