A right mess as jarveys halt traffic
A garda officer arrives at the scene of yesterday's protest by jarveys outside Killarney National Park
Monday October 26 2009
ANGRY jarveys caused traffic gridlock yesterday as they continued to picket one of the country's biggest tourist attractions over the introduction of "horse nappies".
A group of jaunting carriage drivers have been protesting for more than a week outside Killarney National Park, home to Muckross House and Gardens, over attempts to introduce dungcatching devices. And yesterday, gardai in Killarney were forced to intervene to help traffic flow safely around the protesting jarveys.
The National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) has refused to allow jarveys without the so-called “nappies” access to the park.
Taoiseach Brian Cowen intervened in the row and wrote to the parks service on behalf of the jarveys, asking for the appointment of an independent mediator. This was rejected.
The High Court has already refused the jarveys an injunction which would have prevented the NPWS from carrying out the ban. A facilitator appointed following the court case has made little progress in striking a deal.
