‘Like using the servant’s entrance’
Wheelchair user highlights issues with accessibility
People with disabilities or mobility issues are left wanting when it comes to accessibility and services.
Sharne O’Flaherty from Cavan Town uses a wheelchair and says she’s faced numerous issues when it comes to accessing public buildings or sites in the county.
She says a number of local public buildings and tourist sites fall short when it comes to accessibility and measures to improve the experience of people with disabilities.
As Sharne sees it, publicly owned buildings and sites are often the biggest offenders, with private businesses making more of an effort to accommodate everyone.
The lack of accessibility at some of the county’s tourist sites means day trips or visits are virtually impossible and Sharne and her family feel let down.
“We went to the Geopark and to Turbet Island. It’s a stunning place. We got most of the way around [Turbet Island Trail] and came across some staircases. We had to turn around and go all of the way back to the car. We couldn’t finish the loop.
“What’s the point of putting in steps when a nice rolling hill would look better in the environment and will suit everyone. Did it have to be stairs?” she asked.
The Turbet Island Trail is listed as wheelchair accessible by Cavan County Council in its accessible tourism guide.
Sharne says she’s also engaged with the council in relation to issues at the County Museum in Ballyjamesduff. The need for people with mobility issues to use a side door, high kerbs and poor surfaces all need addressing, she says.
“It’s like using the servant’s entrance because we’re not fit to use the normal entrance like normal people. It does feel like that. It feels very segregated.
“The playground has a raised kerb. It’s okay for mum to be able to help the wheelchair user if they’re a child but what if mum’s a wheelchair user? I’m certainly not going to ask my kids to push a chair up a kerb. They’ll do their backs in.”
The lack of safety barriers at the Nun’s Walk was further highlighted by Sharne.
However, Sharne says others have a wide range of facilities or special wheelchair and buggy accessible trails. She says this should be standard nationwide.
“Killykeen [forest park] is fantastic and Castle Saunderson too. Bear Essentials too is fantastic.”
Cavan County Council says it’s working to improve facilities for all, with investment taking place across the county.
“Cavan County Council endeavours at every tourism site we develop to consider the needs of everybody; the new tarmacked path along the Killykeen Greenway being a prime example.
“We are committed to accessibility across our tourism sites and universal access is an ambition. Ensuring that all citizens and visitors can access, participate in, and enjoy all that Cavan has to offer is the right thing to do.
“It is also important to remember that people with disabilities make a significant contribution to the local economy and we want to ensure that, insofar as possible, our tourism sites are designed in such a way to make them accessible for as many people as possible.”
The local authority spokesperson also addressed Sharne’s issue with the accessible tourism guide, which she says lists sites as being accessible even when they’re not.
“The County’s Accessibility guide was produced a number of years ago and developments have taken place on various sites since that time, and it is acknowledged there may be areas or parts of sites that have changed since the guide was produced.
“Cavan County Council will be updating the Tourism Access Guide before the end of this year and welcomes any information from users as to improvements that could be made. Suggestions can be made via email to fun@thisiscavan.ie”
Sharne’s recent experience at the Cavan Arts Festival prompted her to get in touch with the Celt to highlight problems with accessibility right across the county. The events held at Con Smith Park in particular posed problems for her.
“They put the tents far back onto the grass. If you’ve ever tried to put a wheelchair across grass, it’s impossible, especially on a rainy day.
“There were three toilets there, the porta potties. None of them were accessible for a wheelchair user or somebody with mobility issues. You had to step up before you could enter.”
The nearest accessible toilets to the site are at the Tesco carpark or beside the Townhall. Both are over a kilometre from Con Smith Park.
Asked if she spoke to staff on the day or asked for assistance at the site, Sharne feels that she shouldn’t have to.
“I couldn’t get into the tents to talk to anybody. You’ll find most adults and even children in wheelchairs don’t like to ask for help. Our wheelchairs are supposed to be symbols of our freedom. It allows us to finally get out without being in pain. We can actually just mobilise.
“Asking for help from someone else is kind of embarrassing. I’m a grown woman, I don’t want people carrying me across the grass.”
Cavan Arts Festival says it “welcomes feedback and guidance on how to grow as an inclusive and accessible event for all”, in a statement to the Celt.
“As a fledgling community organisation, we continue to learn and take advice from expert support organisations. We look forward to developing sustainably in all areas of festival curation.
“The weather remains out of our control but we are already in discussion with how best to proceed for May 2023 in terms of accessibility to welcome all of our wonderful audiences to our festival once again.”
Sharne also says she’s found people are more accommodating or understanding of people with mental difficulties, highlighting a recent experience involving her 19-year-old son who has autism.
“In Cavan, I have to say they’re brilliant when it comes to autism. Nobody bats an eyelid. A lot of people are much more aware of autism and Down Syndrome and they’re really quite accepting of it.
“My son loves movies and one time in Aldi he stood invoking the overlord or the dark lord or something and nobody as much as batted an eyelid at him. He wasn’t just whispering words, he had full hand actions and everything.”