Next time you’re ‘stuck’ behind a tractor, spare a thought for city drivers!

Our man Frank on his latest experience of the contrasting challenges of city and rural driving; Memories of busy pubs in the past…and a heartbreaking Connacht final defeat for Creggs

Of the almost seventy-two years I have spent on this planet, thankfully barely two of them were spent living in a city. I have always unashamedly advocated the advantages of country living, advantages that seem to get bigger and bigger as the years go by.

Fresh air, open spaces, and a slower pace of life are among the obvious benefits of living in the country, as indeed are the sounds of the animals and birds. But bad and all as rush hour traffic in Creggs is, nothing could prepare me for the traffic congestion that seems to be a permanent part of Dublin living.

One of our children lives out past the airport on the north-side of Dublin, and – as grandparents do –Carol and I answered an emergency call last week to do a bit of babysitting. We drove up on the Wednesday morning, leaving Creggs at 8.30 am. As we weren’t needed ‘till about 12 midday, we had loads of time to do our journey in a nice, relaxed state.

All was going well until we got near Kinnegad, and I saw the first flashing signs telling us that there was a collision ahead, and we would have long delays at least as far as Maynooth. And so we stopped and started and went 100 metres, stopped again and did another 200 metres, and stopped again, and so it went on. After a delay of about 45 minutes things started to clear up, and we eventually made it to our destination with about ten minutes in hand.

As it happened, I went home that evening, leaving Carol behind me, and I encountered more delays. When I came back up again on Thursday morning there was another hold-up, and on our way home that evening another collision had the road west off the M50 completely blocked.

Again the delay was substantial, and after only two days my tolerance level of Dublin driving was at zero. I could only pity all of those who have no choice but to face all these problems day in, day out.

Most times I travel, I avail of the free public transport, but sadly Bus Eireann have discontinued the wonderful direct X20 service to Dublin Airport. Citylink go that way from Athlone, but they stop in every town on the way, and Aircoach, who do have a direct service, won’t accept our free travel pass, which I think is a shame.

Anyway, I’m back in Creggs, it’s

Sunday morning, and while we hope for a large crowd in the village later this evening after the big Connacht Junior Cup final, right now I can travel freely. Apart from two calves that escaped from some farmer’s field, all is quiet on the traffic front.

And so, when you find yourself behind a big tractor on a small country road or have to wait for a few minutes while a load of very valuable cows slowly cross a road, be thankful you have only these type of minor irritations to put up with, and think of your counterparts near the city who may be stuck in traffic for ages, and who might be very thankful for the life you have.