Cllr Alan Curran has called for clarification on the traffic management system that was in place for last Sunday’s Macnas Parade. Thousands of people lined the streets of the city to witness the event but, with no official road closures, the streets remained open to motorised traffic as the parade passed.
Cllr Curran said he was alarmed to see heavy traffic passing down Fr Griffin Road, where he watched the parade, ahead of the spectacle despite the route being lined by children sitting on the footpath and jostling for position.
“We watched the parade on Fr Griffin Road where large crowds of families with young children gathered an hour before the parade passed," he said. "I was very alarmed that the road was open as usual with heavy traffic going past.”
The parade began on University Road, travelled along Eglinton Street, Shop Street, and Dominic Street, and finishing on Fr Griffin Road.
Cllr Curran said it was lucky that there was no serious accident from the traffic passing by the crowds. “Ten minutes before the parade arrived on Fr Griffin Road, the road was finally closed to traffic by the Gardaí, but there didn’t seem to be any coordination," he said. "Barriers went up just before the start of the Wolfe Tone Bridge while cars were still moving at speed past large crowds. Young children excited to witness the parade crammed onto footpaths in the dark, with cars and trucks whizzing by. We were lucky there was no serious incident.”
Cllr Curran called for an improved traffic management plan for future parades and large events. “Was there any traffic management plan at all in place for this event?" he asked. "Any health and safety plan? Cars were parked illegally all over the city as thousands descended to watch this event. Abandoned on footpaths, on double yellow lines, on blind corners. Can we not coordinate with our public transport companies to provide free or subsidised shuttle buses for these events?
"We have the same issues at the parades for St Patricks Day [and] the Arts Festival," he added. "We have such talented artists in Galway who put on world-beating spectacles for Galwegians and visitors to our city, and we need to do better to allow everyone to enjoy them safely.”
