No romance involved in “kissing” gates

There was an initial air of confusion in the Council Chamber when the unusual question was asked, “What's a kissing gate?

Chairperson of the Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District Cllr Enda Stenson posed the question at this week's meeting in relation to a motion about a pathway in Carrick, while Cllr Sean McGowan quipped, “Is it something romantic?”

Darragh O’Boyle, district engineer, laughing in response to the councillors, confirmed that “there were no romantic undertones” to kissing gates.

“You will see kissing gates on entrances into blueways on canals where you have two gates and they are offset; there's no straight through and you have to stop and go around,” he explained.

Cllr Stenson remarked that it was “a new one on him.”

He was speaking after Cllr Finola Armstrong-McGuire asked if Mr O’Boyle to look at the pathway from Glen Carraig up to Summerhill.

She said cyclists are not dismounting as they should, “and are a danger to themselves, pedestrians, other cyclists and vehicle drivers. It would be a safety improvement to erect a barrier of some type to ensure cyclists walk through this pathway.”

The official response noted that the district office can erect “a kissing gate at the lower end of the connection walkway. We will programme these works for the first quarter of 2024.”

This then led to the exchange where councillors asked what were “kissing” gates.

Cllr Armstrong-McGuire said cyclists are “coming onto the roadway and showing no care or consideration for walkers, cyclists or drivers.

“I'm glad to see that you are proposing some gates by the first quarter of 2024.

“In the meantime, do we have any signage that can be reused that instructs cyclists to dismount, she asked.

She said that she fears an accident is likely if the behaviour continues adding that “it's almost death wish type of stuff they're doing. It's very scary for anyone who's walking, driving or cycling; a cyclist coming towards you and showing no regard for your pathway.”

Mr O'Boyle said he hoped the works could actually be completed by the end of the year.