Protest led by daughter of man killed in Limerick border town

PEDESTRIANS could walk safely on the main street of Charleville on Friday afternoon as there was safety in numbers.

Some 200 men, women and children gathered together to say, “Enough is enough”. Eight people have died in the town in the last 10 years with two fatalities within a fortnight of each other last month.

The peaceful protest was organised by Charleville Community Forum following a public meeting on May 31.

Eveyln O’Keeffe, chairperson of the forum, said: “Our goal is to try to prevent further families having to cope with such loss.”

The protest was led by Helen Galvin, a daughter of Pat Galvin who tragically died on April 28 on the main street.

“We walked down the street from the library plaza to the pedestrian crossing at the Bank of Ireland and back up again to the library plaza,” said Ms O’Keeffe.

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If Charleville Community Forum’s request for short-term safety measures aren't implemented in a month’s time on main street they will hold another protest, she said.

“We hoped it wouldn't come to this but we are prepared to continue our campaign. Our goal is to try to prevent further families having to cope with such loss,” said Ms O’Keeffe.

The short-term measures include removal of angled parking on the main street danger zones; stand alone bus stops and loading bays; new warning signs and damaged signs to be repaired; immediate opening of Park Road pedestrian crossings and timeline for Smiths Road crossing.

“In the longer term we are campaigning for a full bypass of Charleville, removing HGVs from our main street and improving pedestrian safety overall. Charleville deserves better,” said Ms O’’Keeffe.