Ballina–Killaloe locals divided over pedestrianisation of historic Shannon bridge

The pedestrianisation of the centuries-old bridge linking Ballina and Killaloe has not landed well with everyone in the twin towns.

Tipperary and Clare County Councils have decided to close the venerable Shannon crossing to vehicles, following the recent opening of the Brian Boru Bridge downstream and what officials hailed as a “successful trial period.”

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But not all locals are convinced. Freddie McInerney, manager of McKeogh’s Hardware in Ballina, says the decision has left some residents and business owners uneasy.

He stated that the process lacked genuine engagement. “They went through the motions but it always seemed to us it was a done deal unfortunately,” he said.

Still, McInerney strikes a pragmatic note. “It is what it is now and we have to move on,” he said. “We’ve been promised that there will be an extensive marketing campaign to bring people into the twin-towns of Ballina–Killaloe and hopefully they will live up to that.”

For now, the old bridge stands silent witness to change — its arches trading the rumble of engines for the shuffle of footsteps, as Ballina and Killaloe wait to see whether pedestrian calm can carry the weight of local commerce.

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