Plea for action at ‘notorious’ blackspot on main Limerick to Kerry road

A COUNCILLOR who lives close to where two people died in separate road collisions earlier this year is pleading for safety measures to be installed in the area as a priority.

Cllr Adam Teskey, who owns farmland on the N21 between Rathkeale and Newcastle West, says urgent action is required before there is another fatality or serious-injury collision.

There have been several other serious collisions on the same stretch of road – close to Reen’s Pike – over the past 18 months and more than a dozen people have died in the general area over the past 25 years.

Raising his concerns at a meeting of the Adare/Rathkeale Municipal District, Cllr Teskey said he’s concerned that national agencies, such as Transport Infratructure Ireland and the Road Safety Authority are “not listening” to the concerns of local elected represenatives and council officials.

“Far too often, there is a sound of silence on that road,” he commented making reference to the road closures that are put in place following serious or fatal collisions.

Cllr Teskey formally proposed that the local authority engages with the relevant agencies and that they work together to address the issue as soon as possible. “We need to light up the area, we need to slow it (traffic) down, he said.

“I am here pleading with TII for them to listen to me, listen to my colleagues and do something about this because I, as a person who lives in that area, cannot continue to see the devestation that the stretch of road is having on people’s lives and people’s families,” he stated adding that the situation has become “alarming and disheartening” in recent months.

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Echoing the concerns of Cllr Teskey and his colleagues, Inspector Pat Brennan told a meeting the Adare/Rathkeale Joint Policing Committee that he too is very concerned.

“It is a notorious stretch of road as ye all well know, I can’t get over the number of fatal accidents that are on it – it’s unbelievable,” he said.

Insp Brennan, the current acting superintendent for the County Limerick Community Engagement Area – says the increase in fatal collisions in County Limerick this year is a serious concern for gardai.

Making an appeal to motorists, he said: “We can only ask people at this time of the year to ensure their lights are working, their tyres are right that they are not tired when taking on long journeys.”