Maghera: Drivers gobsmacked by 'massive' yellow box junction
It is aimed at improving traffic flow on the A29 Tobermore Road.
Melissa Caskey, who works in an office which overlooks the box, said she was shocked when she first saw it."It's massive. It's ridiculous. Everybody who comes into our office says – 'have you seen the size of that box out there?" she said."It's really silly and very few people know how to use it. But I do think they had a good reason for it because that's a very busy junction."She said a smaller box would have been better.
Some residents highlighted the need for safer driving and said they hoped the new box might help.Barney Regan, who runs a bar nearby, said he hoped it might become a tourist attraction."The north coast has the Dark Hedges and the Giant's Causeway, we've got the largest box-junction in Ireland," he said.
The Department for Infrastructure has been contacted for comment.Situated in the town centre, the yellow box is close to local businesses including a cinema, but is also used by through traffic.While there is criticism of the size of the traffic flow measure, there is a general recognition that traffic flow in the town needs to be improved.
Other claims to fame
Many other towns and villages in Ireland claim to be home to abnormally large phenomena.For many years the peninsula of Doagh in Donegal was said to be home to Ireland's largest searchlight as part of the Donegal Lapland festival each ChristmasThe village of Ross Cross in County Meath is said to be home of the island's largest 99 ice creamDonegall Quay in the centre of Belfast is the domain of what is reputedly the largest statue of a fish in IrelandCork city is believed to have Ireland's largest roundabout - the Kinsale Road roundabout which has five separate arms.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
5 hours ago
- The Independent
Part of Giant's Causeway cordoned off following rockfall
A rockfall has taken place at one of Northern Ireland's best known natural wonders. It happened in the Loom area at the back of the Giant's Causeway on Friday. Visitors looked on as rocks crumbled away from a section of the famous basalt columns in north Antrim. The immediate area was then cordoned off. It comes several months after the National Trust, which cares for the Giant's Causeway, urged visitors to stop leaving coins in rock cracks. Work has been under way to remove coins from countries across the world, from the UK's currency to euros and from the Far East and United States, because they can put pressure on the surrounding rock. A National Trust spokesperson said they are not linking Friday's rockfall to coins in the rock cracks. 'On Friday at around lunchtime, there was a small rockfall in the Loom area (back of the Giant's Causeway) in Port Noffer,' they said. 'As a dynamic site, rockfalls do occasionally occur at the World Heritage Site. The area in which the rockfall took place is now temporarily cordoned off. 'Although coin removal work was being carried out today, this activity and the incident are not related.' While geologists say that the causeway was created by an outpouring of Basalt lava 60 million years ago around the time the North Atlantic was opening up, there are also legends that it was formed by an Irish giant Finn McCool. The National Trust protects and cares for more than 40,000 columns at the Giant's Causeway, which is Northern Ireland's first Unesco World Heritage Site and also benefits from a number of other important designations.
BBC News
6 hours ago
- BBC News
Giant's Causeway: Part of iconic site cordoned off after rockfall
A rockfall has taken place at the Giant's Causeway, one of Northern Ireland's most famous sites.A part of the Loom area of the Causeway, near Bushmills, County Antrim, has been cordoned off.A spokesperson for the National Trust, which oversees the World Heritage Site, said "rockfalls do occasionally occur". They said the incident was not related to the removal of coins that have been placed in rock crevices. In May, the National Trust asked visitors to the site to stop placing coins in the crevices between the rocks because it was causing charity said: "Although coin removal work was being carried out today, this activity and the incident are not related."The Giant's Causeway became a United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) World Heritage Site in was formed about 60 million years ago when volcanic eruptions created 40,000 basalt stone columns. As the ancient lava cooled, the stones formed into hexagon-shaped Irish mythology, the causeway was created by Finn McCool, an Irish giant, who wanted to prove his strength to Benandonner, a rival Scottish giant from across the year, the attraction received about 684,000 numbers are steadily climbing back to their pre-pandemic levels. There were nearly a million visits in 2019.
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Top 20 countries to retire that could save you cash in your golden years – including island with 300 days of sun
THE top 20 countries for Brits to retire abroad have been revealed - and they could save you cash in your golden years. Experts looked at factors including affordability, the cost of buying a home, lifestyle, healthcare and safety. 3 3 Spain and France might be the first destinations that come to mind if you're thinking about where retirees will flock to. But Ireland has been named the ideal overseas destination, according to analysis carried out by wealth management firm Hoxton Wealth. Each country was ranked with a score from 1 to 100 - and Ireland scored an impressive 85. That's partly because of the ease to migrate there legally post-Brexit. Ireland scored the highest of all countries for visa access and residency pathways because UK citizens have unique rights under the Common Travel Area (CTA) agreement. It means UK can live, work, retire, and access public services in Ireland without restriction, unlike any other EU country following Brexit. Plus, it's easier to integrate because everyone speaks English and it's still close to the UK. In joint second place were Portugal and Cyprus, which both scored highly on lifestyle and safety. People thinking of a move to Portugal can enjoy mild winters and hot summers, as well as its relaxed and outdoor-oriented lifestyle. Popular expat areas include on the Algarve, the Lisbon coast, the Silver Coast, and on Madeira. I explored the tiny European country with underground cities and little-known islands Portugal is also consistently ranked among the best places to live for retirees globally. Cyprus was also highly rated for its climate and its relaxed, beach-oriented lifestyle. It's known for being expat-friendly, especially around areas like Paphos, Limassol and Lanarca - which all offer great outdoor living year-round. The top 20 countries ranked and how they scored 1 - Ireland = 87 2 - Cyprus = 85 3 - Portugal = 85 4 - Malta = 83 5 - Malaysia = 81 6 - Panama = 81 7 - Spain = 81 8 - Greece = 80 9 - Mauritius = 80 10 - Turkey = 80 11 - UAE = 80 12 - France = 78 13 - Italy = 76 14- Uruguay = 76 15 - Canada = 73 16 - Japan = 73 17 - Thailand = 72 18 - New Zealand = 70 19 - USA = 69 20 - Australia = 68 UK baseline = 77 Malta was next on the list as it has structured and accessible residence schemes for British retirees. Everything is also accessible there as English is an official language. The country has been picked out for its affordability, including affordable healthcare, transport and dining. Property prices are rising in areas like Sliema and Valletta but there's still excellent value in smaller towns and in Gozo. Plus, it's said to have a huge 300 days of sun per year. Although Spain has typically been seen as a haven for expats, it's now slipped down the rankings because Brits are regarded as third-country nationals. You would need a visa to stay there for any longer than 90 days in any 180-day period. Retirees can get the Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV), but you'd need to show a passive income of €28,800 (£24,370) a year per person. Still, Brits could be drawn to the Spanish lifestyle - including its sunny Mediterranean climate - as well as the well-established expat hubs in places like the Costa Blanca, Costa del Sol and in the Balearics. The countries rated best for cost of living were Malaysia, Turkey and Thailand, with Canada, Japan and Australia scoring the best for economic and political stability. The UAE was rated best for taxation with no income tax on individuals, no inheritance tax and no tax on pensions or investment income. Chris Ball, CEO of Hoxton Wealth, said: "Places like Spain, France, Australia, and the like have long been seen as safe, sunny, and straightforward. But the world has changed. "Rising living costs, shifting visa rules post-Brexit, evolving tax landscapes, and new global lifestyle trends mean the decision of where to retire or relocate now involves far more than sunshine and property prices. "UK residents considering retiring abroad need to look beyond purely the climate or cost of living." Best places in the UK to retire If you're planning to stay in the UK, there are also plenty of great options. A recent study by Legal and General ranked the " wine capital" of Britain on its list, as well as areas of Surrey and Buckinghamshire. Chesham and Amersham took the top spot as the best place in the UK to spend your golden years. The area – popular for its transport links to London, its charming and historic streets, and for being a gateway for walkers and cyclists to the picturesque Chilterns – was ranked the highest in L&G's index. The picturesque town of Beaconsfield, also in Buckinghamshire, came in second place, while Dorking and Horley in Surrey was third. Also in Surrey, Goldalming and Ash was fourth, while Mid Sussex completed the top five. West Sussex - which is part of the wine capital of the UK and produces more wine than any county - also made the list, with East Grinstead and Uckfield coming in 10th. They were ranked on access to healthcare, opportunities to build social connections, access to nature, local amenities and financial security.
