Significant damage caused to Private Kelly Memorial Park in Moate
A council meeting this week heard claims that a contractor carrying out improvement works to the Clara Road junction in Moate had caused significant damage to the green area of the adjacent park named in memory of Private Patrick Kelly.
The matter was raised at Monday's meeting of the Athlone Moate Municipal District by Cllr Vinny McCormack, who said he had just been notified of it earlier that afternoon.
"There was an unfortunate incident at the Private Paddy Kelly memorial park in Moate, where the contractor doing work on the junction there seems to have basically destroyed the grassy area of the park," said Cllr McCormack.
He said he had photos of the damage which he would be sending on to council management, and he urged local authority officials to get in touch with the contractor as soon as possible.
"This is a park that's well-maintained by local volunteers, and it is is a very important piece of land in the Moate area, commemorating the late Private Kelly," said Cllr Vinny McCormack.
At the end of August last, work got underway on a road safety overhaul of the Clara Road junction, involving the installation of pedestrian crossings and ramps, the lowering of kerbs, and junction improvements.
The council had received grant funding of €128,000 towards the project.
Cllr McCormack said the contractor had been doing a very good job on the junction itself, and that work there was nearing completion, but that the damage caused to the memorial park had shown "a total disregard" for the efforts of those who maintain the green area.
"Certainly I think that we need to urgently on this... the contractor really has to leave this area back in proper order because it's shocking what's been done to it," said the Fianna Fáil councillor.
District Engineer Denis Sloyan said he would be in touch with the contractor about having the green area restored to its previous condition.
Moate resident Private Patrick Kelly was shot dead by the IRA during the rescue of kidnapped businessman Don Tidey in woodland outside the village of Ballinamore, Leitrim, in December 1983.
The park next to the Clara road junction was named in honour of the married father of four at a ceremony coinciding with the 25th anniversary of his killing in 2008.