Killarney seeks to clean up a mucky problem

Killarney National Park is to invite submissions from local people on how to tackle the problem of dung being dropped by jarvey…

Killarney National Park is to invite submissions from local people on how to tackle the problem of dung being dropped by jarvey horses on walkways.

Public consultation on the issue will be invited in the National Park draft development plan to be published later this week.

While the plan will deal with many issues, it will specifically try to tackle the issue of horse dung, the National Parks and Wildlife Service's regional manager, Mr Paddy O'Sullivan, said yesterday.

There are growing complaints from locals in the tourist town about the amount of horse droppings on public roadways in Killarney, as well as on choice walkways in the national park.

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Ms Breda Courtney Murphy, a local teacher and keen cyclist, has written to each of Killarney's nine town councillors about the issue.

Ms Murphy said her tolerance ran out in late July when she was "continuously sprayed from head to toe by passing traffic" on the short trip from Beech Road to Flesk Bridge.

She said if "horse nappies" cannot be made compulsory, then more frequent road sweeping need to be organised.

Some 130 jarvey horses are authorised to operate in the area.

Three years ago, in the first updating of the jarvey by-laws since 1854, the town council stopped short of introducing a clause which would make the wearing of horse nappies, or "sanitary equine devices", compulsory.

Cllr Sheila Casey (FG) said she has had "continuous complaints from locals and tourists about the smell and the unsightliness of horse manure on our streets, roads and national park."