'Lunatics' overtaking vehicles dangerously on busy roads in Kilkenny

Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh (Fine Gael) has called out reckless driving behaviour after stating that she regularly finds herself ‘braking hard’ in order to ‘let in lunatics trying to pass you’.

Her comment was made at the most recent meeting of the elected members of Castlecomer Municipal District, where speeding and driver behaviour was a key talking point.

There was sympathy expressed from party colleague Cllr John Brennan, who stated that it is an ‘absolute disgrace the way some people are treating the rules of the road’.

“We need more enforcement to catch these culprits,” he added.

These comments were aired following a presentation to elected members on the national Speed Limit Review (which is rolling out phased default speed limit reductions across rural, national secondary, and urban roads in a bid to improve road safety).

Rural local roads have already seen speed limits reduced from 80 km/h to 60 km/h from February of this year whilst urban and built-up areas are transitioning from 50 km/h to 30 km/h in housing estates, town centers, and urban cores where appropriate.

Local authorities are implementing these via special by-laws and public consultations following guidelines issued in late 2025, with full rollout targeted for completion by March 31, 2027.

Another issue raised at the meeting was ramp provision in Johnstown in north Kilkenny, described as a ‘huge problem’ by Cathaoirleach of Castlecomer Municipal District, Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick (Fianna Fáil).

“There are speed ramps at Galmoy and Gathabawn but not Johnstown,” he stated. “Nothing seems to be done to stop speeding in Johnstown, particularly at night, where you see lorries thundering down the road.”

Cllr Mary Hilda Cavanagh stated that her ongoing pleas for ramps to be installed in Johnstown have become ‘the bane of my life’, and requested an update from area engineer Pauric Butler on same.

Mr Butler confirmed that plans are ‘in place’ for a raised crossing near the shop in Johnstown and that there are plans to raise the crossing near the church.

Cathaoirleach Pat Fitzpatrick also raised the need for the installation of a much-requested ramp in the vicinity of the junior school in Ballyragget, adding that the process is ‘taking too long’.

Mr Butler confirmed that plans for the ramp will progress through to the detailed planning phase next year.