Kilkenny taxi driver frustration over rank manoeuvre

Taxi drivers are set to operate from a temporary taxi rank in Patrick Street for the upcoming Savour Kilkenny festival in a continuation of last year’s arrangement.

Last year, a number of taxi drivers were left frustrated during the festival, due to taxis being re-located from the Parade to Patrick Street, a move deemed unsuitable in the eyes of many drivers due to cases of parking spots being taken up or blocked by the general public.

Speaking at a council meeting in November of last year, Fianna Fail councillor and Mayor of Kilkenny Andrew McGuinness, described the lack of a suitable rank for taxi drivers during the Savour Kilkenny festival as ‘not fair’ and it needed to be 'prevented'.

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In the subsequent months, Cllr Eugene McGuinness, council engineer Ian Gardiner and other council officials have held constructive meetings with local drivers and the Kilkenny People understands that there will be slight adaptations to last year’s arrangements.

Similarly to last year, the temporary taxi rank is expected to return to Patrick Street, but for this year’s Savour festival, the council will be erecting ‘large signage’ and parking attendants will be on sight policing the area, according to independent Cllr Eugene McGuinness.

Furthermore, council engineers are understood to be examining taxi ranks across the city with the intention of erecting new signage with works expected to begin shortly.

However, long-serving local taxi driver Jimmy Walsh believes more needs to be done.

"When these festivals come together it’s very frustrating being a taxi driver in Kilkenny," he said.

"Every time there’s something on in Kilkenny; road races, cycling, or festivals they close down the taxi ranks and the taxi driver can’t go anywhere because all the streets are closed down and it’s not right," Mr Walsh stated.

The Kilkenny taxi driver went on to suggest that local drivers should be compensated for the alteration of location, as even with measures in place, he says some drivers will disregard the rules of the temporary taxi rank on Patrick Street.

"You can’t put it on Patrick Street because people just pull into the taxi ranks. They don’t care."

For more, check out this week's Kilkenny People