Picture: Valerie O’Sullivan
A FULL half a century after it was first proposed, sparking a storm of controversy at the time, a new campaign is underway to have a cable car service provided at one or more of Kerry’s premier tourist locations.
Cllr Michael Cahill has renewed a call on Kerry County Council to conduct a feasibility study to identify suitable sites on local mountains, taking specific zonings into consideration.
He said it would be an enormous boost for people with disabilities or restricted mobility who would be able to see some of the wonderful sights that they are currently prevented from accessing because of their circumstances.
“Not a meeting of Kerry County Council passes without universal access being on the agenda. This is one way of addressing that issue and, in terms of funding, the early bird catches the worm,” Cllr Cahill told KillarneyToday.com.
A Swiss-style cable car service had initially been proposed in 1968 when an innovative system was designed for Mangerton and Torc mountains in Killarney (see RTÉ archive clip below). Planning permission was approved, Bord Fáilte grant aid was made available and it was suggested at the time that the service would need 125,000 passengers a year to make it economically viable.
https://www.rte.ie/archives/2017/1213/927140-killarney-cable-car-plan/
That £200,000 plan was shelved, however, following objections from An Taisce, on environmental grounds, as well as local jarveys, boatmen and ponymen who feared it would interfere with their business.
Over the years the cable car idea had also caught the imagination of the late Cllr Maurice O’Donoghue, an enterprising Killarney politician and businessman, and the late Ernie Evans, a restaurateur and businessman, with the latter suggesting that Glenbeigh would be an ideal location.
The only cable car currently running in Ireland links the Beara peninsula in West Cork with Dursey Island and it has been in operation since 1969.
The concept is included in the Kerry Tourism Strategy 2016-22 and Cllr Cahill told KillarneyToday.com that there are a number of possible suitable areas where access to the peaks could be provided.
“I am not pushing for any particular location and, of course, matters like Special Areas of Conservation and Special Protection Areas would have to be factored in but, if this is a runner, it would be a wonderful benefit to people with disabilities,” he said.
Kerry County Council has committed to examining the feasibility of providing universal disabled access, in a sustainable manner, to one of Kerry’s mountain peaks. The matter is to involve negotiations with Coillte Teo, the NPWS, Fáilte Ireland, local development companies and communities.
“The Tourism Unit would welcome suggestions of suitable sites for consideration but it will be 2019 before any progress is likely to be made in relation to the proposal,” a spokesperson said.
“We need to be mindful of the stipulation that the suggested sites should be outside SAC and SPA designated areas.
© KillarneyToday.com: Reaching tens of thousands of people every day. To advertise call 087-2229761 or email news@killarneytoday.com
