Should Killarney's Horses Wear Nappies?

Killarney Jaunting CarThis is the million-dollar question down south in the picturesque tourist town of Killarney in County Kerry, where jarveys and tourist officials are at loggerheads over the use of 'horse nappies' to keep the town and parks clean.

 

For years a horse and trap ride has been synonymous with a visit to beautiful Killarney. A jaunting car trot through the wonderful national park is an unforgettable experience and the jarveys are an attraction in themselves with their story telling and knowledge of the town. (Read our article on Jaunting Car Tours of Killarney)

However, there has always been some controversy over the horse dung left behind by the horses on the streets of Killarney and in the National Park. It's even been said that the horse dung may have prevented the town from scooping the tidy towns award!

Jaunting cars in Killarney

There has been many discussions and meetings between the jarveys and the local town council to install the 'dung catchers' or 'horse nappies' on the horses but all to no avail. The jarveys have always disputed that the 'equine sanitary device' is unsuitable and a danger to the horse and the passengers as the horse may bolt. The jarveys are now coming under increased pressure from the National Parks and Wildlife Services (NPWS) to fit the horses with 'equine sanitary devices' to keep the National Park clean.

The NPWS has jurisdiction over the 15km of internal roadway in the National Park and have now introduced regulations that an 'equine sanitary device' has to be fitted to use these routes and keep the park free of manure.

To read more on this click here

Do you think using 'horse nappies' is a step too far or does Killarney really need to 'clean up' its image? We would love to hear what you have to say on this…Leave a comment below.

Comments

We really appreciate your comments. We reserve the right to moderate posted comments and may paraphrase individual entries. Opinions expressed here are not the opinions held by GoIreland.com unless expressly stated.

  • #1
  • By: Avril
  • On: 13/Jul/09
I was in Killarney during the week and was discussing this topic with the drivers and riding centres as I have a horse and understand both the medical and safety issues related to this. Non equestrian people will always be at loger heads with those who are involved with horses. We don't mind horse droppings as they are not 'dirty' in the traditional sense. New tracks are being built for the riding horses however once these are built people will walk them and the complaints will surface again. With all the conversation I listened to I cannot understand how a simple solution has not been reached.

I propose that a small number people are employed to drive a small vehicle with a trailer through the town and parks where the horses frequent and shovel up the droppings and sweep away the excess. This is not a costly service, would provide more employment and would keep everyone happy. The Jaunting Carts and Riding centres already pay taxes to the government for licences and other busness related costs, why not allocate this money to a few pay packets!

However, I must emphasise that I am not proposing more taxes to the equestrian community in Killarney. The cost of keeping horses is high and profits are low, so I do not condone any more cost to be brought on. With the amount of money Killarney earns in tourism it would be a very small price to pay for an extra pay packet.
I worked a long long time age in Killarney hotels, went many a time on the lovely cars with the most adorable horses. no no no Nappies. The smell was wonderful it was part of Killarney and everything was green and lovely don't all go mad in Killarney keep the charm and the smell/ Angela now living in Brisbane Australia/
  • #3
  • By: Maura
  • On: 20/Jul/09
I've lived in Kerry for just over a year now and visit Killarney several times a week and quite frankly cannot understand what all the fuss is about!  The Jaunting Cars are what makes Killarney what it is - its part of its charm - lets face it a trip to Killarney is not complete without a ride on a Jaunting Car and if that means having to put up with a bit of horse plop on the roads and a pong then so be it.  I don't find it offensive or off putting at all and have just become immune to washing it off my car !!!  Farmers create worse smells when spreading their slurry on silage fields so give the Jaunters a break !!  Say NO to horse nappies !!
  • #4
  • By: rita
  • On: 23/Jul/09
this is the now the time  to change ...we must be able to walk the streets and not get covered in horse dung ,everything changes so move on .if you want to make money you must  accept change   this is a change for the better .....think different.
  • #5
  • By: Neill Kenmuir
  • On: 22/Oct/09
I'd be more concerned about the pollution and carbon emissions from all the cars, buses, trains and aeroplanes transporting the tourists from around the globe to Killarney.
They are locked out now and should be kept out. See the filth these "icons of Killarney" leave behind them on the blog link below. The roads in the National park are walkable again. Let keep it that way.
http://www.dungfreekillarney.blogspot.com/
  • #7
  • By: nameGerard Bonner
  • On: 27/Oct/09
Visit u tube "Diapers Donkeys and the NPWS" to hear my song about the problem there with Dung Catchers on the Horses.

Leave a comment

Please complete the form below to submit a comment on this article. A valid email address is required to submit a comment though it will not be displayed on the site.