Ardee traders block ‘islands’ on Castle St
ARDEE Town Commissioners have unanimously decided to ask the county council to re-lay the controversial traffic “islands” in the town’s main streets, even if the workmen have to seek the protection of the gardai to stop traders interfering with the work.
The Commissioners, meeting in the candlelight of McQuaid’s lounge on Wednesday night last, because of the power-cuts, felt that the issue ran much more fundamental than mere traffic islands.’ ‘We must abide by our decision to lay the ‘islands* if democracy is to mean anything in this town,” was how Senator B. Markey summed up his feelings, on the matter. It was a view with which the majority of the members concurred, The scenes in Castle St. last Tuesday week when workmen were physically obstructed by a small number of traders from laying the ‘ islands’ opened the debate at the Commissioners meeting.
Mr. J. McCoy said if he, as an ordinary member of the. public, kicked over kerb stones, and broke cord that workmen were using, as the traders had done, then he was sure that he would be hauled off to the garda barracks in double quick time. Nobody should be above the law. Mr. V. Kerr (Sliabh Breagh) recalled that Mr. O. Gillespie asked at the last meeting when the Engineer bowed to the pressure of the traders before, what guarantee they had that the Engineer wouldn’t do so again.
It was obvious that he again bowed to pressure, and what the Engineer should have done on this occasion was to call for the assistance of the gardai in laying the ‘ islands.’
Mr. McCoy said that “he had never taken as much stick” from the ordinary members of the public over this one issue. The hair stood up on the bnck of his neck when he was accused by many people, as a Commissioner, of allowing a small group of people to get away with challenging their authority.
Mr, Kerr added that the public should be aware that it was the county council, not the Town Commissioners who decided that the ‘islands’ were to be laid, and that the Town Commissioners were not the authority responsible for roads, but, the council.
Senator Markey felt that there was a very deep principle involved. The Town Commisisoners. as the public representatives of the town, approved the ‘ islands ‘ for the general good.