News from around the 32 counties of Ireland

Kilkenny

A bridge in the south of the county is having to be altered because people’s lives are at risk.
Safety measures are due to be added to the Milltown Bridge at the N25 near Glenmore because rocks, eggs and other objects are being thrown onto vehicles passing below.

Extensive damage has been caused in some cases, and some motorists are fearful when driving under the bridge, for fear of being hit with an object and not being able to avoid it while traveling at the 100kph speed limit.

Information supplied to Kilkenny County Council by An Police Síochána highlighted five such instances in recent months. Cars were struck by rocks on the N25 on September 22 and 23 of last year, the latter causing “extensive damage”, and eggs were thrown at vehicles November 1 and 20.

Extensive damage was also caused when a rock struck a car on January 17 of this year.

Police surveillance of the bridge and CCTV equipment have not been successful in solving the problem, despite the removal of objects likely to be thrown from the bridge.

It is now planned to provide new parapets to the bridge, at an estimated cost of “in the order of e175,000”, director of services John Mulholland told members at last Monday’s meeting of Kilkenny County Council.

“It is an absolute disgrace to have to spend that kind of money to prevent criminal behavior,” said Cllr Tom Maher (FG). “It is an isolated area. It should be easy enough to fingerpoint the offender. It is a reflection of society last week that we have to spend e175,000 on one bridge to prevent people from what they should not be doing anyway.”

“Kilkenny County Council won’t be spending it – it’s the National Roads Authority – but somebody is spending this money,” Mr Mulholland pointed out.
(Source: Kilkenny People)

Laois

Laois is the fastest growing county in Ireland with its population surging past the 80,000 mark for the first time.

The first results from Census 2011 show that 80,458 people live in Laois, an increase of nearly 13,400 on 2006.

Laois grew by 20 per cent which was more than double the national average. The county has also passed neighbouring Offaly, and surpassed the growth projected by Laois County Council.

Most of the growth took place in the north and east of Laois. Portlaoise grew by more than 40 per cent and is now almost 18,000. Portarlington also grew fast as did Graiguecullen.

The county also recorded that highest rate of inward migration. Apart from Offaly, Laois is growing faster than its neighbouring counties of Kildare, Kilkenny, Carlow and Tipperary.
(Source: Leinster Express)

Leitrim

Superintendent Noel Carolan, Carrick-on-Shannon, said the Police are taking “exceedingly seriously” a spate of vandalism, criminality and anti-social behavior in the county town last weekend. Among a number of incidents to take place, Police seized a large amount of cocaine, four cars were damaged, one of which had a traffic cone thrown through its back window, and two large flower pots were damaged by vandals. In a separate incident, a man was treated for a broken finger after being bitten in an altercation on Main St last Saturday night.

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Nster.com