Public transport options must grow to keep Mayo towns flowing
ACROSS the west of Ireland, growing tension between local authorities and communities over public realm improvements has prompted calls for independent mediators or 'middle-men' to step in and facilitate dialogue.
In towns like Strokestown and Ballaghaderreen, conflict has already escalated to the point where local stakeholders feel unheard and overlooked.
Independent Ireland MEP Ciarán Mullooly recently highlighted the situation in Strokestown, where significant employers and ratepayers claim they’ve been left in the dark regarding local development plans.
The call for mediation aims to prevent further hostility and ensure constructive engagement among residents, retailers, and councils.
In Ennis, large-scale protests erupted over proposals to pedestrianise streets and reduce vehicle access, exposing the emotional and economic stakes involved in such projects that may look good on paper.
These examples serve as cautionary tales for other towns preparing for major public realm enhancements.
In Castlebar, however, we have not yet reached such a tipping point. Unlike other towns, there has been no major standoff or need for an intermediary to manage opposing views, yet.
With Urban Regeneration and Development Fund (URDF) money finally flowing a mere half decade since its announcement, changes are only now visible.
The Old Post Office is rapidly transforming into a state-of-the-art youth facility, and the Imperial Hotel is set to be reborn as an innovation hub in the coming months after decades of bated breath and false starts.
These developments are undoubtedly positive, but they also raise a critical question: How will Castlebar cope with growing traffic and increased demand for car parking as the town expands even further? Will it ever be possible to pedestrianise a street in this town and reduce the options for parking?
With full car parks daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., a rising population, and an ever-increasing number of vehicles, the town is fast approaching a saturation point.
Amidst these challenges, a promising innovation is set to launch just beyond Castlebar’s reach. TFI Local Link Mayo, based at the Social Services Centre in Castlebar, will debut a ground-breaking rideshare app called TFI Anseo on Achill Island this week.
Developed in partnership with US-backed tech firm Via, the app will enable residents of Ireland’s largest island and just as far as neighbouring village Mulranny to share trips and reduce reliance on private cars.
TFI Anseo represents a new chapter in rural mobility. With taxi numbers dwindling and the costs of becoming a licensed driver soaring, the app offers an affordable, practical alternative.
By leveraging carpooling and aligning with the national rural mobility plan, this pilot initiative may serve as a blueprint for future transportation solutions across the country.
If successful, TFI Anseo could significantly reduce traffic congestion in towns like Castlebar in the future, much like Local Link buses give options for people, easing tensions over parking spaces and cutting back on unnecessary car use.
It’s a timely solution that aligns with the wider push for sustainable transport and smarter urban planning. It may in time also be of a benefit to nightlife in rural areas and diminish the scourge of drink-driving.
A silver lining of Castlebar being slow off the mark in its development is the fact the town can learn from the mistakes made elsewhere like the ones above and plan proactively.
With the right communication, community input, and innovative mobility options, we can ensure growth and enhancement don’t come with an unnecessary added cost.