[Article] Gaddagh bridge re-opens

Victor

http://www.examiner.ie/irishexaminer/pages/story.aspx-qqqg=ireland-qqqm=ireland-qqqa=ireland-qqqid=65771-qqqx=1.asp

Delight as €1.35m Gaddagh bridge re-opens
By Donal Hickey
24 June 2008

LIFE returned to normal in a scenic, rural area of Kerry yesterday with the official opening of a new €1.35 million bridge by Ceann Comhairle John O’Donoghue.

The 70m, five-arch, concrete structure replaces an old stone bridge over the River Gaddagh, near Beaufort, that collapsed following extremely heavy rainfall in December 2006.

The collapse resulted in the closure of the road and traffic diversions, which created serious difficulties for the local community, especially those involved in farming, with a number of landowners having lands on both sides of the bridge.

It meant a lengthy detour for those who needed to access the other side of the Gaddagh River.

Mr O’Donoghue said it was a very busy and important local secondary route, crucial to the area in terms of agriculture, rural tourism and access to the Beaufort and Glencar area.

As well as being a tributary of the River Laune, one of Kerry’s main fishing rivers, the Gaddagh River itself was an important angling river, he added.

“As a result, the income generated from anglers coming to the area to fish the local river is hugely important to the local economy,” Mr O’Donoghue said.

As the Gaddagh is a salmon spawning and salmon fishing river, the South West Regional Fisheries Board was consulted by Kerry County Council during the design and construction to minimise disruption to the river.

A special feature was built into the bridge design to allow fish to swim upstream during low water.

The area is also important for outdoor activities and is a short distance from Carrantouhill, and the Gap of Dunloe, and other routes for hillwalking and climbing.

Victor

They know well how to embarrass themselves in that part of the country.

http://www.independent.ie/national-news/a-bridge-reconstruction-too-far-on-river-gaddagh-1422949.html

A bridge reconstruction too far on River Gaddagh
Sunday June 29 2008

It's a pretty little bridge across trout-rich waters nestled in the foothills of the McGillicuddy reeks, but a furious row has broken out between the Fianna Fail supporters of Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue in Kerry South and the independent Healy-Rae dynasty over who got the money to build the crossing over the river Gaddagh.

The row over the small bridge has opened one of the biggest rifts in some time between the O' Donoghue and Healy-Rae camps. Senior council management have also felt the Ceann Comhairle's ire.

The Gaddagh bridge was one of the main items on the shopping list of the Independent TD Jackie Healy-Rae, signed-off on by then president of Fianna Fail, Bertie Ahern, after last summer's general election in return for the support of the Kerry TD, a former director of elections for Fianna Fail.

The bridge collapsed in the bad storms of December 2006 -- its fourth collapse. This time it took €1.35m to rebuild. However, the Ceann Comhairle John O'Donoghue "was really the one who secured the funding", his supporters insisted last week.

Outgoing Mayor of Kerry Michael Healy-Rae, who was publicly described by senior management in the council last week as "one of the hardest working mayors ever", rushed to open the bridge ahead of schedule before he left office last Wednesday. The mayor asked senior management to allow him to open the bridge, even though it was not quite finished.

Contractors and council workers worked overtime to prepare the bridge, for which there was about three week of work left to do, according to council sources.

However, when the Ceann Comhairle's people got wind the bridge was being polished up and Mr Healy-Rae was to officially perform the opening, "they insisted we hold off," according to the sources.

Council officials were told Mr Healy-Rae was getting too much of his own way as mayor and too much press coverage already, thanks to the council. The Ceann Comhairle was not pleased, according to the sources. A compromise was offered by council officials -- both Mr O'Donoghue and Mr Healy-Rae would jointly open the Gaddagh.

But the row spilled over to the opening of the bridge last Monday when there were heated exchanges between the Ceann Comhairle and senior council officials. Locals said a furious Ceann Comhairle emerged from his State car after hearing Mr Healy-Rae on Radio Kerry thank Jackie Healy-Rae "for getting the money".

On Radio Kerry on Wednesday, Fianna Fail Councillor Michael Cahill who is close to the O'Donoghue camp launched a further attack. He said the funding was in place in January 2007, long before Jackie's shopping list was signed-off on and it was he (Cllr Cahill) and the Ceann Comhairle who secured it.

There were bitter exchanges, with Michael Healy-Rae saying Mr Cahill had a personal vendetta against the Healy-Raes. Mr Cahill denied this.

He said this weekend there were projects which where undoubtedly obtained by the Healy-Rae list "but the Gaddagh bridge was not one of them".

Funding had been announced in January 2007, before the general election.

"I am prepared to put my political career on the line on this," Cllr Cahill said.

The bridge row is being seen as a sign of the threat Fianna Fail, and the O'Donoghue camp in particular, feels from Michael Healy-Rae, who was last week announced as likely to succeed Jackie on his retirement at the next election.

With only two seats up for grabs in Kerry South next time (Mr O'Donoghue will be automatically returned) and Fine Gael likely to retain their seat, Fianna Fail will be up against the Healy-Rae machine, who have managed to outwit them in the previous three general elections, for a much coveted second Fianna Fail seat.

Sources close to the Ceann Comhairle insisted the exchanges on the Gaddagh were over the fact the bridge was opened ahead of schedule.

"It was felt the bridge wasn't ready," a source said. The question of Michael Healy-Rae being too much in the limelight apparently did not trouble the Ceann Comhairle.

- Anne Lucey