The victim of a hit-and-run who was left for dead on a Galway road has urged motorists to adopt a more accepting, empathetic attitude to cyclists.

Enda Conneely, from Cappagh Road, Bearna, is lucky to be alive after a collision with a Land Rover Discovery on the Galway to Moycullen Road on St Patrick’s Day left him “absolutely battered”.

Speaking publicly for the first time since the near-death experience, the 43-year-old father of two girls said society’s acceptance of hatred towards cyclists, and a lack of proper segregated cycling infrastructure, were fuelling road rage.

March 17 was like any other. He marked our national day at Galway’s parade in the morning; was due to go to dinner with his sister, Sinéad, and family, later that night; and took a two-hour window in between to get a cycle in as part of his triathlon training.

The English and history teacher at Coláiste Éinde in Salthill never made it to dinner, though. Instead, he was involved in a hit-and-run incident on the N59 and was rushed to the Emergency Department of University Hospital Galway where he was treated for broken ribs, and separated shoulder.

He also suffered facial cuts, which left permanent scarring, and cuts and bruising all over his body. The pain deprived him of sleep for over a week.

“Even though I didn’t have any spinal damage, I was absolutely battered after it,” he said.

His wife Miriam was traumatised, too, and feared the worst when two Gardaí visited their home that afternoon unannounced.

“The Guards called to the door before they had a chance to contact her. She knew I was out cycling and was already late home. She immediately assumed I was dead. A second earlier and I could well have been,” Enda recalled.

Caption: Bearna teacher Enda Conneely, pictured at University Hospital Galway, after he was the victim of a hit-and-run incident on the Galway to Moycullen Road. He suffered broken ribs, a damaged shoulder, cuts and bruises and was lucky to survive.

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