Ballina students stage roadside protest
Students from Culleens National School at last Thursday's protest. Picture: John O'Grady
Students from Culleens National School gathered on the Killala Road for a roadside protest at lunchtime last Thursday.
The protest was organised by the eight members of the Green-Schools Committee and led by Culleens teacher and Green-Schools coordinator Deirdre O'Loughlin.
“We are looking for three things,” Deirdre told the . “We are looking for a new footpath, we are looking for the speed limit to be reduced and we are looking for a pedestrian crossing.
“Every year at this time, it is normally Walk To School Week,” Deirdre added. “We could not take part this year because it is not safe anymore.”
Last April, Culleens National School moved across the road to its new building. The side of the Killala Road on which the new campus is located does not have a footpath or a pedestrian crossing. Additionally, the speed limit is currently 80 kilometers per hour.
“The cars are going way too fast,” Culleens National School student and Green-Schools Committee member Lexi Smith said. “Any kid could get run over.”
A survey conducted by the Green-Schools Committee revealed that the number of students walking or cycling to school has dramatically reduced. Likewise, the number of students who are driven to school has increased.
“I used to walk home with my cousin down to my Granny’s house, but now I can’t cross the road because no one will stop and there is no footpath,” Lexi said.
“I used to walk to school with my brother, but now I can’t because it is way too dangerous,” Culleens National School student and Green-Schools Committee member Mark Harley added.
The students of Culleens National School were joined by parents and teachers. All of the protesters were sporting High-Vis vests as they chanted, “Reduce the speed!” Cars and trucks were forced to slow down as they drove past the protest; many of them honked their horn in solidarity.
Local councillors Annie May Reape and Mark Duffy were also in attendance.
Culleens National School is part of the Safe Routes to School Programme, which was first developed in 2020 by the National Transport Authority, Green-Schools and An Taisce to increase walking and cycling to school.
In addition, the school has been working with Green-Schools representative Ciaran Hussey, who was also present at the protest.
“We just try to help our school and community,” Lexi commented.
“We really hope people will listen,” Mark added.
