‘Boys on motorbikes in Leitrim need to cop on’

Bornacoola councillor Sean McGowan delivered a message to bikers who are speeding past a local church on Sunday mornings to “cop on and show a bit of respect.”
The Fianna Fáil councillor launched a stinging attack on the two-wheeled boy racers at the February meeting of Carrick-on-Shannon Municipal District.
He said the straight stretch of the R202 road from Dromod to Mohill was being used as a racetrack, particularly by motorcyclists at weekends.
The ongoing situation saw the councillor call on the local authority to provide some form of traffic calming measures and signage in the area.
The speeding bikers, he said, are using the very busy stretch of road adjacent to St Joseph's Church, Cloonturk, Dromod.
“Worshippers and the local community are concerned at the speed of motorists along this section of the road,” Cllr McGowan said.
He said: “The boys on the motorbikes love it at the weekends” and said they “put the boot down” with speeds of over 100mph.
“They should cop themselves on and show a bit of respect to the local people and people attending church,” he said.
His motion was seconded by Cllr Sinead Guckian and also supported by Cllr Des Guckian.
The council road department's response to the motion said that previous requests have been made to have a footpath provided from the Dromod roundabout to the church.
Once funding for the footpath is made available the council can carry out a footpath design and construction of same.
Alternatively, the local community can submit an application for funding through Clár or the town and village renewal scheme.