Moran calls for Port Tunnel toll to be reduced during rail strike

Senator Mary Moran

The National Roads Authority should reduce the €10 peak-hours toll faced by commuters using the Dublin Port Tunnel for the duration of the rail strike, according to Labour Senator, Mary Moran.

Up to 100,000 commuters, many of them from Louth, were left facing disruptions earlier this week as a result of the strike by rail workers on Sunday and Monday. Further protests are planned for next month, leaving rail users looking for alternative travel arrangements once again.

Commenting on the matter, Senator Moran said: “The disruption to Inter-City, Commuter and Dart services in particular means that people in Louth and north Dublin suburbs who normally use rail services are now being forced to commute by car and use the Port Tunnel.

“Due to the €10 toll that applies to the tunnel between 6am and 10am, and again between 4pm and 7pm, it means commuters could fork out €40 altogether between the two days – and even more again if the strike resumes in September.

“It is unfair that motorists are being financially penalised for a strike that isn’t of their own making. Therefore I am calling on the NRA to reduce the peak-hours toll to €3 – which is the usual off-peak fee – in what would be a welcome gesture that would ease pressure on strike-hit motorists.

“In the meantime, I hope that all sides involved in this dispute will resolve this matter soon, so that we can draw this difficult episode to a close.”

Carlingford to feature in popular Dutch travel series

Carlingford is set to feature in a new series on one of the Netherlands’ most popular travel TV shows, in what will hopefully be a major tourism boost for the area.

3 OP Reis (which means ‘Channel 3 Travels’), visited Ireland this week. Invited here by Tourism Ireland in Amsterdam, the crew filmed some of the many unique and wonderful experiences on offer here for Dutch holidaymakers.

Footage captured here will air this autumn to more than 800,000 people in Holland who have a passion for travel and adventure, on BNN (Bart’s Neverending Network), one of the main Dutch TV channels targeting a young audience.

The 30-minute episode will feature the Carlingford Heritage Centre, as well as Newgrange in Co Meath. In Dublin, the crew captured footage at places like Trinity College, Dublin Castle, St Patrick’s Cathedral, the Dublin Whiskey Club in the Liberties and in Temple Bar. The crew also filmed at Na Fianna GAA Club in Glasnevin, where they tried their hand at hurling; and also took a cruise across Dublin Bay to Howth, where they enjoyed the cliff walk. Their itinerary was designed by Fáilte Ireland.

Karen van der Horst, Tourism Ireland’s manager for the Netherlands, said: “We are delighted that this popular travel show agreed to film in Ireland, showcasing some of the great experiences Dutch holidaymakers can enjoy here. Lifestyle programmes such as this are an excellent way for Tourism Ireland to get positive exposure for Ireland in the Netherlands. The footage filmed here will be seen by more than 800,000 Dutch holidaymakers – encouraging them to come and sample the destination for themselves.”

This was the second television crew invited here by Tourism Ireland in the Netherlands this month – the other was Pluijm’s Eetbare Wereld (Pluijm’s Edible World) – to capture footage for programmes which will be seen by a combined Dutch audience of more than one million people.

The real Magic Hill

On the subject of the Magic Hill (see last post), here’s a two-and-a-half year old video from US travel writer Andrew McCarthy about his video to the famous road on the Cooley Peninsula.

Cars are known to roll uphill here and, sure enough, that’s what happens Andrew when he leaves his car in neutral.

It’s a local favourite but still worth a watch, especially when he finally gets to Louth, having initially gone looking for it in Meath.

The famous Magic Hill