Clare mayor urges safety on county roads after tragic weekend
THE MAYOR of Clare has urged motorists around the county and country to "keep working together" towards safer roads.
Councillor Joe Cooney made the comments following the death of two people in separate incidents on Clare roads last weekend.
A pedestrian in her 70s was fatally injured when she was struck by a van last Saturday on the N67 at Moyasta between Kilrush and Kilkee.
In a separate incident, well-known rugby player Darren Ryan (30) of Meelick, was fatally injured when the minibus he was driving struck Athlunkard bridge in Corbally, on the Limerick/Clare border, shortly before 3am on Sunday morning.
Speaking to Clare FM on Monday morning, Cllr Cooney urged motorists to take care on Clare roads, particularly facing in to the winter months.
"All we can do is keep working together to to try and encourage people to be more careful."
He also offered his "deepest sympathies" to the families affected by both incidents.
Nationwide, there have been 165 road traffic deaths in Ireland this year - a rise of almost 30 per cent in comparison with last year.
Two teenagers were tragically killed in Inishowen, Co Donegal as they made their way home from work in the early hours of Monday morning, while two fatal collisions took place in Dublin and Monaghan on Monday afternoon.