PEOPLE POWER WON THE DAY IN THE END
RARELY did a public meeting in recent times stir the passion or the blood as much as the first ‘Close the Gate’ gathering in McHugh’s Venue in June 2016.
A number of incidents involving the Gate finally sparked ‘people power’ as was stated more than once on the night.
A committee was elected, all members of the community, with Brian Condra, who addressed the gathering, stating that despite all the attempts of past figures - such as Cromwell - the gate had remained intact, but was this generation going to be its undoing?
‘Imagine we break it with a truck,’ he added.
There were many opinions aired, the vast majority wanting action taken and Cllr Kevin Callan responding that he had it down for a motion at the next council meeting that the process should begin to close it off.
It was stated the decision could be taken by the councillors in Drogheda, and not the council as a body.
From that point on - just 14 short months ago - the pressure mounted and the campaigns raged and the mood remained positive. Nothing was going to stop this particular runaway truck.
But all of this has only come after previous attempts to close the Gate failed.
Jim Garry Way was deemed as the vital link to allow closure happen, but fears had always arisen about traffic flow.
Then Town Clerk and now County Manager Joan Martin said five years ago she had expressed a very strong desire to close the gate, not just for the safety of the 13th century structure but also for the wider tourism development potential in the town.
A plan back then was deemed a failure.
‘I had hoped to close it but looking at the submissions and meeting some of the businesses involved it is clear we couldn’t do it in such a tight geographical area and we will have to look at a wider traffic flow programme, possibly involving West Street.’
Fast forward to just a few months ago and a council meeting at Barlow House and the decision is made to finally close the Gate after so many centuries of use.
Yes, the traffic will take a bit of getting used to, but ultimately, the closure of such an iconic structure is the start of a new era in culture appreciation by the Boyneside.
This is truly a new beginning.