Special distinction for Mayo N17 road safety campaigner

Francesca Gibbons, Callowkilleen, Claremorris, has been selected for a Mayo People of the Year Award in recognition of her work as a road safety campaigner.

In 2011 Francesca was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and was told she had three weeks to live unless she began immediate treatment.

She fought with everything she had and survived.

Francesca has undertaken many local campaigns, most notably the ‘N17 Campaign’, where the road between Claremorris and Knock had become infamous for fatal crashes.

When a horrific accident at the Lisduff/Meelickmore junction claimed three lives in 2017 Francesca decided that enough was enough.

When officials said the dangerous junction would not be fixed for another 15 years, Francesca refused to accept it.

She started a petition and in a town of about 5,000 people, she gathered 5,000 signatures which she brought to Mayo County Council.

Within months, funding was allocated and before long the €6 million N17 Lisduff Overbridge Project - the largest road safety investment ever made by Transport Infrastructure Ireland’s Safety Division - was underway and in March 2023, the new overpass opened.

The award will be presented at the Mayo People of the Year gala banquet at Breaffy House Hotel on Friday night next, November 21.

The event is organised by RehabCare, Mayo County Council and The Connaught Telegraph.