Upgrades needed at level crossing following accident

There are calls to make a level crossing in southeast Mayo safer following an accident there.

Independent councillor Richard Finn put forward a motion at a recent meeting Claremorris-Swinford Municipal District meeting calling on the area manager to request that Mayo County Council write to Iarnród Éireann to ascertain what upgrades they plan on making at the Garryredmond level crossing, between Claremorris and Ballyhaunis, in the interest of health and safety.

It comes after a train collided with a car there in September. The adult male driver of the vehicle and the teenage male front passenger were both airlifted to Galway University Hospital, but survived the collision. The two males were brothers from Clifden, Co Galway.

Cllr Finn called on roads users who are crossing the level crossing to close the gates after they are finished using them. He counted nine signposts coming off the N60 warning motorists who are approaching the level crossing in Garryredmond.

He believes that the area needs to be better lit, however, as the ESB have not connected electricity yet. He questioned why a solar-powered lighting system cannot be installed there.

Fine Gael Cllr Tom Connolly agreed with Cllr Finn, saying he could not understand why they won’t use solar panels in Garryredmond.

Cllr Patsy O’Brien worked with Iarnród Éireann for many years and said he walked that particular section every Monday morning and he would have to close the gates. He also believes that it is very important that the ESB bring electricity to light up the area.