Where the footpath ends...

There aren’t many people out and about this morning. That makes today a good day for Darragh Galligan to head into the town centre. It is not that the 25 year old doesn’t enjoy company – quite the contrary: He happily stops to greet familiar faces and have a quick chat – he just doesn’t feel comfortable on the narrow footpaths leading towards Market Square when people carrying shopping bags, pushing buggies, or delivering parcels encroach on the space. Reporter Nicole McDermott joined Darragh and mum Karen to chat along the journey and highlight some of the obstacles faced by wheelchair users...

According to the Irish Design Manual for Roads and Street, footpaths have to be at least 1.8m wide - the space required for two wheelchairs to pass each other comfortably. Darragh’s wheelchair uses nearly the whole width of most paths leading to Market Square.

Cavan Town’s urban landscape of course goes back to the 18th century and the authorities of older towns gradually try to enhance infrastructure, by prioritising upgrades (upper Bridge Street for example) or plan for future improvements (such as the Abbeylands development).

The rate of disability increases with age. In fact, 80% of people with a disability were not born with it but acquired this during their lifetime. The majority of people with a disability are between the age of 18 and 65 years, states the National Disability Authority. Darragh is one of these people.

When he was 10 years’ old, Darragh suffered a brain bleed. He lost the use of his right arm and had to learn basic life skills all over. After rehabilitation, he was able to finish school. His health has since deteriorated, so for the past two years he has been dependent on a wheelchair. He lives close to Terry Coyle Park with his parents and siblings.

During the day, he likes going into town: “I meet friends, go for coffee or meet the ABI (Aqcuired Brain Injury) group.”

At the moment, he is still fairly independent with the electric wheelchair. Although coming down Barrack Hill proves to be tricky: “I have to stay on the street, watch for traffic and go down the hill slowly.” Curving into Bridge Street after the traffic lights is not possible for him, he explains: “This is too steep, I would usually go up to the Egg Market and head in from there.” Nearly half a kilometer detour.

“Cavan is very busy with traffic,” he says. Apart from narrow footpaths, loose bricks, bins, posts, dips and curves “my biggest problem are the delivery trucks or people parked on the footpath.” Not once has someone ever apologised for being in his way or for forcing him to move onto a busy street - if he can get down the kerb at all without tilting over. His mother Karen understands that deliveries need to be made, but says observing a set timeframe would improve the situation.

Going down Main Street, Darragh greets an elderly man standing in a doorway. Later he explains: “That man there, Patsy, he only walks between the bank and 5th Avenue Bar because it’s safe for him.” Meaning this man’s engagement with the community is limited to a 50-metre corridor.

Karen sees similar avoidance tactics with Darragh, essentially leaving shops he’d like to visit out of bounds: “I only noticed the other day that Darragh never goes to the other side of the street,” she says pointing across from the O’Reilly statue. “He always stays on this end, because there are too many wobbles on the other footpath.”

On our way to Market Square, his mother Karen has had to grab onto the wheelchair handle a couple of times to steady it. Loose bricks can shift under pressure, causing the wheel to sink or get stuck. If only one wheel hits the loose brick, the wheelchair could even tilt.

The wheelchair, however, has not stopped Darragh from following his favourite pastime: GAA. “I watch about 10 to 12 matches a week,” he tells excitedly. Men’s, ladies, kids, his sister, it doesn’t matter to him. And he knows, the facilities are always “just brilliant”.

“At my own club Cavan Gaels they have a lift, everything is wide and accessible.” His love for GAA games has brought him all over the country and has shown the family how well other rural towns have adopted accessibility measures.

“Athlone and Mullingar are very good in terms of outdoor spaces and smooth, wide footpaths,” Darragh praises.

Cavan is not all bad: They mention the recent well-designed upgrade of the disability parking at Town Hall and the anti-slip surface. “It would be great if the whole town was like this,” Karen laughs. Highlighting the irony. “We never use it though, because of Town Hall Street which is not wheelchair friendly.” This is demonstrated by Darragh who pivots around ESB-boxes and protruding steps, while people snug the wall to allow him past. “And,” adds Darragh: “Very often someone is parked up here.”

There are positives of course.

“The council was very good in installing the ramp here at our house,” Karen acknowledges. “Maybe” - giving them the benefit of the doubt “they aren’t aware of the state of the footpaths.” Neither want to be seen as complaining, rather they want to help highlight the obstacles for all people with mobility issues.