Travellers 'not welcome' in Killarney car park
KILLARNEY'S new mayor has said that Killarney has no place for transient Travellers who park illegally in the town. Cllr Donal Grady called on the Dáil to "once and for all" sort out the issue which regularly affects towns across Ireland on an annual basis.
The issue has been raised after six Traveller caravans, moved into the Department of Environment-owned carpark opposite the entrance to Muckross House on Muckross Road, having first been moved from Tiernaboul Industrial Estate and subsequently from Ballyspillane. The car park is usually closed at nightime but a lock on the entrance has been broken, allowing the caravans access to the site.
It is understood that the families involved are from the Cork and Waterford regions, with the latter having moved to Dublin.
Moving into Tiernaboul Estate earlier in the week the caravans were moved on following a court order but subsequently relocated in Hazelwood Drive, Ballyspillane, creating tensions with the residents of the estate, and staying in the nearby basketball court.
The convoy stayed for one night before moving on again following discussion with gardaí before moving into the current Muckross site.
"We don't need these people upsetting local residents, some of whom were shaking in their boots," the mayor stated this week.
"We don't have a transient site in Killarney and have a good relationship with the Travellers currently living here, so these people are not welcome. If they can afford big caravans and four-wheel drives, surely they can afford to pay for their parking, he continued, adding, "it's time out 160 TDs woke up and sorted this issue once and for all".
The move into Killarney will raise concerns over security ahead of a week in which up to 80,000 visitors are expected to visit during the Irish Open Golf tournament.
While the six caravans are currently located close to the Muckross-based jarveys, local jarvey spokesperson Diarmuid Cronin said he was not aware of any incidents in the area.
- KEVIN HUGHES khughes@kerryman.ie
