So a few of you were watching my Twitter stream this morning and read my text updates about an incident where a child crossing the road to get to school at the Dunboyne Gaelscoil was knocked down (thankfully no serious injuries). The annoying thing about this story though is mainly why it had to happen. For what is such a simple little thing, not only could things like this be prevented, but it would also make things much easier for all residents of Dunboyne Castle.

I have here a little snapshot of the area. Unfortunately the stupid Ordnance Survey guys don’t have an up-to-date map of Dunboyne including the estate and the school, so I had to get this from print screening an interactive map. It is a section of the Rooske Road including the entrance to the estate and the Gaelscoil.

A little explanation of the situation (excuse my shitty quality):

• The grey lines indicate the roads (obviously not to scale)
• The yellow lines indicate where footpaths are
• The orange bit is the entrance to the Gaelscoil
• The light green mess are trees, hedgerows and other things on the side of the road.
• The big red X’s are where residents of Dunboyne Castle have to cross the road to get to the school. The top one is where this mornings incident happened.

Now in the mornings the road is very busy. At times myself and Aoife have to wait about 2 minutes at both X’s to get across as there is almost never a break in the traffic. It’s not on the scale of rush-hour gridlock, but there just always happens to be a car coming along from either direction. The closest lollipop bearer is up the road at the small bridge which is practically at the library, which is not very helpful for those trying to go to the Gaelscoil.

When the school was originally going to be built there, the council went ahead and built the pathway along the left-hand side of the road from the school to the library up the road (not on the map), so that children and parents didn’t have to cross up near the library and again at the school. But they didn’t create a path coming from the school to the estate, and I’d guess because they didn’t want to bother removing the trees alongside. But after today, something will have to be done to stop this from happening again. I know that the child was from the estate as well, so they as well have had to cross twice every morning, and possibly afternoon to get to/from school.

I just hope that it hasn’t had to come to this to spur Meath County Council into action. Something so simple as a small bit of pathway is no substitute for the distraught of the parent, child, and driver of the car involved; and any injuries that might have occurred. I’m sure that Noel Leonard, a local county councillor who lives in Dunboyne will have something to say about it as well as me.