Bypass Ireland: Ballyvourney and Ballymakeera have mixed feelings about the N22

Some locals fear the N22 bypass will draw passing trade from the Cork villages — but others tell Neil Michael they expect it will boost business by taking traffic congestion off their streets

Micheál Creedon, who runs the Abbey Hotel in Ballymakeera, is one of the people in two minds about the impending bypass: '[W]e rely a lot on passing trade, particularly during the summer. That passing trade is now obviously going to be gone.'  Picture: Neil Michael

Creeping towards Baile Mhic Íre Co Cork is a road that most residents want and some fear — but about which others are in two minds. 

It is the much talked-about new €280m N22 Baile Bhúirne to Macroom dual carriageway, a large section of which opened last December.