Cow dung blamed for damaging road surface on busy tourist route by Bridges of Ross

A KEY access route for tourists in South-West Clare is testing the rubber on the wheels of bikes while chemicals from cow dung have been attributed with damaging the road surface.

Surface of the L-2000-0 was described as overall being in “reasonable condition” by senior executive engineer, Alan Kennelly who acknowledged that sections would benefit from resurfacing works.

He noted it was an access route to the Bridges of Ross and Ross Bay, thus an important tourist route. Cow dung has added a complicated factor to the need for improvements, Kennelly flagged. “Shorter sections require both road reconstruction and resurfacing works. There is a complicating factor along the route in that some local farmers move their cattle along the road on a daily basis.

“While it is understood that cows need feeding and milking it is a fact that cows leave dung deposits in their wake. An unfortunate consequence is that if this cow dung is not removed from the road, over time, chemicals in the dung affect the road surface and accelerate its breakdown,” he added.

Farmers whose cows travel along the L-2000-0 were encouraged to pay more attention to cleaning the road surface. “I believe that a number of nearby farmers have purchased road sweeping brushes and water tanks (which are mounted on a suitable tractor) and clean the road daily. If the farmers with herds along the L-2000-0 could be persuaded to do likewise then the lifetime of the road surface would be extended and it would be easier to make a case for road resurfacing works”.

An assessment of the route to bring it to “a standard expected of a primary route for tourism on the Loop Head Peninsula” was sought by Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF). “I’ve cycled it and John O’Malley (acting senior executive officer )has, unless there is very good rubber on the wheels it is a challenge”.

Loop Head farmers are “very proud,” Cllr Gabriel Keating (FG) observed. “They do maintain their lands and build up their herds,” the Cross native said. He outlined that the cows are housed for eight months of the year and only pass on the stretch of the road for four months.

Better standards of road are warranted for the people of South-West Clare, Keating maintained. “They pay income, property and car tax, entitled to a reasonable title of road. We’re promoting cycling, we have signs for cycling but it has been brought to my attention that the signs are not fit for cycling, one councillor told me he didn’t see a bar of tar for long stretches”.