Solheim Cup host area 'left off new M3 signs'

The Meath community which is to host the country's biggest sporting event next year is angry that it has been left off the signage on the newly-opened M3 motorway. Dunsany, which will host the Solheim Cup in 2011, which will see the cream of European ladies' golf talent pitted against their opponents from the US, has been left off the motorway signage. The event is due to be held at Killeen Castle in September of next year, and this week details of the Ladies 2010 Irish Open, to be held in Killeen this August, were also announced. The issue was highlighted by local community newsletter, the Skane News, which criticised the National Roads Authority (NRA) and Meath County Council for overlooking the area. "Even when you come off the motorway, you would be hard-pressed for finding directions to Dunsany," the newsletter stated. The only reference is at one of the roundabouts outside Dunshaughlin, while Kilmessan, Johnstown, Skryne and Dunshaughlin are all mentioned on signage at the Blundlestown interchange, while Dunsany, on the other side of the N3 from Skryne, is nowhere to be seen. "It would be interesting to know what the views of the developers of Killeen Castle are on the issue, having invested so much money into developing the international golf resort in the area, particularly as Meath County Council and Meath Tourism have been making such a big deal out of promoting the event," the local community publication remarked. Two other major centres, the Teagasc Agricultural Research Centre at Grange and the EU Food and Veterinary Office, both of which receive national and international visitors, are also in the Dunsany area, and it is understood motorists have been having difficulty locating these. Teagasc yesterday (Tuesday) hosted a National Beef Research Day at the Grange farm, attracting thousands from across the country. "It is strange that somewhere like Skryne, with its three pubs, can receive such dominance on motorway signs, while these three major centres in Dunsany have been overlooked," the Kilmessan/Dunsany newsletter added. "The engineers from the National Roads Authority (NRA) and the council made a grave mistake when selecting areas to be signposted." The community is to contact the NRA, which commissioned the building of the road and the signage, to seek to rectify the matter. Meanwhile, the old N3 national primary route has become the regional road R147 since the opening of the new M3 motorway, and there has been a consequent reduction in the speed limits on the road. Cllr Maria Murphy of the Dunshaughlin Electoral Area wants to alert motorists to the changes in speed limits on the former N3 and the areas around it. "Special speed limit by-laws came into force along the M3 and the former N3 on 4th June, when the new motorway opened," she said. The by-laws establish the maximum speed at which vehicles are legally permitted to travel on specified public roads. The purpose of the Special Speed Limit Bye-Laws is to take account of the M3 Clonee to North of Kells Motorway Scheme and its interfaces with existing special speed limits. Cllr Murphy explained: "The old N3 has now become the R147. This also means that the maximum speed limit of 100km/h allowable on the old N3 has now become 80km/h unless otherwise designated. The new speed limit signs have been erected but I am concerned that the majority of motorists are unaware of the changes. "When you have been driving on a road for years, you tend to follow your normal habits. It was apparent to me in the last week that drivers on the former N3 had not slowed down to take account of the reduced speed limits. Drivers need to be aware at all times of the speed limit allowable on the roads they are driving," she said.