They might look like nappies. They might - heaven forbid - smell like nappies. But the garments which could be imposed on the jarvey horses of Killarney are equine sanitary apparatuses, according to a proposed new bylaw.
Road experts claim up to half a tonne of dung is dropped daily on the highways and byways of the Co Kerry town by hackney coach-horses during the tourist season. A local councillor, Mr Michael Gleeson, says he alone received "at least 50 complaints" last year. Now it seems the town's planners - determined to clean up Killarney's image after a guidebook recently said it was "best seen through a rear-view mirror" - have had enough.
Among 30 new bylaws proposed is one which demands that all hackney carriages be fitted with "an equine sanitary apparatus" approved by the council. Other proposed bylaws deal with the health and treatment of horses, as well as the age and behaviour of jarveys.
While there is broad support for such sweeping changes, some councillors have expressed concern that horses could react dangerously and kick out when fitted with the new garments.
"Safety is the biggest problem. I would prefer to see droppings on the streets than blood on the streets from tourists," said Cllr Donal Grady.
The council has admitted that not all horses would readily accept the nappies and that some may have to be trained for up to six months before they can use them safely.
"The indications are horses will respond in six months, or not at all," said the town manager, Mr Tom Curran.
Voting on the new bylaws - the first major updating since 1854 - has been put back to December while the safety issue is being reviewed.
In the meantime, jarveys have agreed to stay off the town's main streets except for vital pick-up business from hotels, and instead keep to the new and aptly-named Inner Relief Road.
Mr Curran said the jarveys were part of the tradition of the town. "But we are a major tourist centre and we are getting complaints about smells and associated health hazards," he said.
There was already a law prohibiting dog droppings, and he asked: "Can we have one set of laws for dogs and another for horses?" So far it seems nobody has suggested nappies for dogs.
If the bylaw on nappies is passed, as expected, it will come into effect from the eve of St Patrick's Day next, the traditional start of the tourist season.