Ministers urged to save Kerry stone walls

Minister for the Environment John Gormley has been urged to intervene to save stone boundary walls along one of the most scenic stretches of the Ring of Kerry, which are currently being replaced by “ugly” precast concrete barriers. Derrynane resident Jean Byrne has written to Mr Gormley and to Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey complaining that works to widen the road between Sneem and Waterville are sacrificing part of Ireland’s national landscape heritage. “This is perhaps the most beautiful part of our coastline that can be viewed from a car, bus or bicycle. We sell it as one of our main tourist attractions,” she said. She urged both Ministers to give the matter their “immediate attention before it is too late”. Ms Byrne agreed that this stretch of the Ring of Kerry – part of the N70 national secondary route – was a “narrow, dangerous road that needed widening”. However, she said this was being done “in such a way as to destroy our stone walls”.

The Irish Times