Renmore rat running reaches tipping point in Galway
The issue was the focus of a meeting this week between Chief Executive Leonard Cleary, elected representatives, the Renmore Area Traffic Committee and Minister of State Noel Grealish, who organised the engagement.
At the meeting, Minister Grealish proposed appointing a specialist traffic consultancy team to work with both the council and residents before any plan is brought to public consultation.
“I am delighted with the outcome of the meeting,” said Minister Grealish.
“I believe it is vital that we work together to find a resolution and that the residents most directly affected by rat-running through Murrough Avenue are involved in every stage of decision-making.”
Data presented at the meeting highlighted the scale of the problem, with 4,444 vehicles recorded on Murrough Avenue in a single day.
Residents said similar volumes were now a regular feature on surrounding roads.
Chief Executive Leonard Cleary confirmed the council would appoint expert consultants, combine their findings with internal expertise, and revisit earlier proposals as part of a new review process.
I believe it is vital that we work together to find a resolution and that the residents most directly affected by rat-running through Murrough Avenue are involved in every stage of decision-making.
A follow-up meeting involving the Active Travel team and a new Senior Engineer for Roads is expected in the coming weeks.
Residents and local representatives said the impact was being felt daily.
Chair of the Renmore Area Traffic Committee, Pat Spelman, said long-established residents were now struggling to cross safely or exit their homes.
Murrough Avenue resident, Nuala Forde, described her fear when crossing the road and outlined several confrontations with motorists.
She added that both her and her daughter’s car had been damaged by speeding vehicles.
Breda Fox of Renmore Park highlighted the growing number of young families buying homes in the area and warned that the traffic was unsafe and unsustainable for a residential neighbourhood.
Former Renmore Resident’s Association (RRA) Chair, Michael Duffy, said the time for action had arrived, while fellow former RRA Chair, Eamon O’Regan, highlighted that rat running through the estate provided little benefit to drivers.
His own timing comparisons showed that using the Dublin Road was often faster than cutting through Renmore.
Cllr Terry O’ Flaherty (Ind) highlighted that plans agreed 19 years ago to replace the Skerritt Roundabout with a signalised junction, including a slow-filter system, had still not been delivered.
She also questioned what could be done when navigation platforms directed traffic through residential streets.
Deputy Mayor Alan Cheevers (FF) said residents were experiencing real anxiety and warned that the process must now deliver results rather than becoming “a talking shop”.
Fine Gael Cllr Shane Forde argued that planned BusConnects works on the Dublin Road risked increasing traffic volumes unless preventative measures were taken.
Director of Services Patrick Greene said that the conclusion of the BusConnects design phase would allow the council to begin progressing solutions and that Active Travel measures are focused on traffic calming.
The Renmore Area Traffic Committee said they found the meeting to be “constructive and positive” and appealed to motorists not to use Murrough Avenue and Renmore Park as a short cut out of respect for the residents.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.