A dispute involving jarveys, dung catchers, and park officials has been causing problems for Killarney National Park in Co. Kerry for months. Back in July, jarveys (hackney coaches) were banned from the park due to the coachmen’s refusal to use dung catching devices on their horses.

Officials from The National Parks and Wildlife Service, who are in charge of the park, no longer want soiled roads throughout the famous and highly visited park. (One million people visit the park each year.) Park officials’ solution to this issue is to provide dung catchers (I’ve even seen them referred to as horse nappies too!) free of charge to the jarveys’ horses. The problem is that the jarveys think the dung catchers are dangerous and will irritate the horses; however, park officials have come back with evidence that they have tried and tested the dung catchers on other horse drawn carriages without a problem.

Nonetheless, the 45 jarveys involved in the dispute feel strongly against the usage of dung catchers and aren’t going down without a fight. For the past week, coachmen have been picketing the entrances of the park. The dispute seems to be snowballing as Gardai (the Irish police) were even involved yesterday because the picketing interfered with traffic. What’s more is that Taoiseach Brian Cowen is even part of the matter now! The Taoiseach made an attempt to involve a dispute resolutions moderator to assist in the problem but this was surprisingly rejected by the park officials.

It doesn’t sound like the jarveys or the park officials are going to budge any time soon. And with no solution in sight, the park will continue to be absent from the legendary traditional carriage rides that take visitors through a 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) stretch of the park.

Source; Source; Source; Image Source

Related posts:

1. Ireland: Did You Know?
2. Dublin Horses Around
3. Dublin Wax Museum New And Improved
4. The Top 10 Things Left Behind At Dublin Airport