By Dan Walsh at Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council meeting
The upcoming Local Elections (June 7th) had a lively impact on Tuesday’s monthly meeting of Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District Council held in the Civic Centre, Gorey, and there is scarcely a community in the huge double district that didn’t figure with members calling on the Council officials for progress and activity on roads, streets, beaches, anti-social behaviour, illegal dumping to mention but a few!
The meeting opened with the chastisement of Cllr Fionntán Ó Súilleabháin which could enter local folklore as “the misleading letters episode” that made the headlines in Kilmuckridge district recently, first discussed at the April meeting of Wexford County Council and taken to the top of the agenda by Cathaoirleach Cllr Pip Breen.
Many members joined in the tense discussion, but Cllr Ó Súilleabháin held his defence and admitted that “a mistake was made” before raising safety concerns outside Coolgreany National School. “Children’s safety is my concern,” he concluded. Cllr Anthony Donohoe raised the state of the road from The Gap to Loggin and Cllr Joe Sullivan suggested that businesses in Esmonde Street be supplied with an information leaflet to keep them informed.
Cllr Andrew Bolger was full of praise for Matthew McGrath who campaigned for “the access for all and age friendly improvement works” at Ballymoney beach. Sadly, the Environment Report states that “Ballymoney beach has not reached the water quality standard for the Blue Flag and therefore will not be awarded the Blue Flag in 2024.”
Cahore featured strongly during the meeting from the completion of the controversial new Dryloo toilets – they have been opened more times than they have been flushed! – to some rock armour that is necessary and repairs to weather damage in the car park.
Cllr Mary Farrell was vocal on the dumping of mattresses, dumping household rubbish, questions about CCTV and the dreaded aftermath of dog fouling and the impact on those who must pick it up! A rapid response unit was suggested.
Cllr Willie Kavanagh claimed the roads in the Kimuckridge area are up to standard. He experienced the Derry road in The Ballagh following recent improvements and stated; “it was a pleasure to drive on.”
Cllr Ó Súilleabhain raised the question of “parking on footpaths” and the inconvenience to wheelchair users, the elderly and local residents, with particular emphasis on events at Sean O’Byrne Park, but Senior Roads Engineer Joanne Kehoe suggested that this matter be taken up with Traffic Wardens or An Garda Siochána in future.
“Tell the residents to report it to the warden or contact the Garda station,” said Ms. Kehoe who stated that these complaints arise all the time from housing estates to the Main Street, and if she responded to each complaint the entire streets would be covered in bollards? She declared; “I am not putting a load of bollards around Gorey.”
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