FIX IT FOR US NOT JUST THE FLEADH!
FOOTPATHS NEAR BIG RIG IN ‘DEPLORABLE STATE’ SAY LOCAL RESIDENTS
AN older resident of Bolton Square is appealing to the council to make urgent repairs to the footpaths in front of her house, as she has already fallen twice due to dangerously uneven surfaces.
Even though Mary Gallagher’s house looks out over the local council offices, no repairs have been carried out on the pavements in the 52 years she has lived on the street!
“I have fallen twice over the past few years and spent overnight in A & E with my hip, as well as getting a dislocated finger,” says the active 74-year-old mother of three.
“I would never take legal action, however, I have rung them a few times about fixing the footpaths, but they have never got back to me at all.”
Another neighbour had slightly more success, receiving a reply to the letter she sent to Louth County Council Director of Services Paddy Donnelly.
“My neighbour Julianne Byrne must be much better at words than me, as she managed to get a response from them,” she says with a laugh.
“She pointed out that the Big Rig for the Fleadh in August will be in front of our houses, and with such an international event on our doorsteps, do we really want the town to look so impoverished, as well as being liable for health issues to our visitors,” says Mary, a resident of Bolton Square East since 1966.
“They should be mending them for the residents who have being paying rates over the years, but if it gets the work done, I don’t suppose we won’t mind.”
Dr Byrne went on to point out that, because the council’s response was hand delivered, they would have witnessed first-hand the ‘deplorable and dangerous conditions’ they deal with daily.
“We were told that the council is supporting the delivery of the Fleadh in every practical way, subject to personnel,” said Mary, reading from the letter.
“He said the matter would be considered, and if the right funding and resources are in place, it may be done this year, whether in time for the visitors of not, we’ll have to see.”
The condition of the footpaths at Bolton Square, and particularly Potato Market Square East where Mary and Julia live, was raised at the May meeting of Drogheda council members.
Cllr Framk Godfrey included them in a list of areas of the town that required urgent attention ahead of the Fleadh in August.
He was also told that any work would have to be prioritised and subject to funding being available.
“We have been pointing this out to the council for years, and this is the first time they have actually written back to us, and that’s probably because they are worried what people from oethr countries would think,” adds Mary.
“I brought up three children here in the 60s and 70s and it was no fun trying to push a pram along here, and I also have an elderly friend now, and he tells me it is not easy to try and go along the footpath, it’s so uneven. As I said, it wouldn’t have been in my nature to sue, but we will have people coming from all over the world to the stage in August, and that might be different.”