*Cllr Johnny Flynn with one of the damaged earthing rods.
DAMAGE TO the Daniel O’Connell Monument has been reported and has undone some of the “extensive refurbishment” works completed in Ennis two years ago.
Earthing rods which were placed on the historic monument to protect it from strikes of lightning have been ripped off, causing both a safety hazard but also placing it at risk in the event that lightning does strike in the heart of the county town.
A total of €35,000 was allocated to carry out essential repairs and maintenance to the O’Connell Monument in 2021 under the Historic Structures Fund (HSF) and Built Heritage Investment Scheme (BHIS).
Works took place in June 2021, it included emergency and stabilisation works on the structure which was built in 1867 but also the addition of the earthing rods.
Speaking to The Clare Echo, Cllr Johnny Flynn (FG) expressed his disgust with the damage to the monument. “It is dreadful to see such anti-social behaviour around the monument which is of such importance to the civic and political life of Ennis and Clare. Extensive refurbishment was done to the monument to protect it two years ago and in the last twelve months two of these special earthing rods that come all the way down the side to protect it from lightning have been damaged”.
Clare County Council staff are to look at placing a permanent protection around the earthing rods to prevent a repeat event occurring.
According to Cllr Flynn, close to €100,000 was spent on the monument in recent years. “It was unsafe, earthing it to protect it from lightning would have been a significant portion of that cost because special lightning rods had to be put in at the base of the monument and two straps were brought all the way up to the top so these two straps have been vandalised and pulled away from the rod”.
Fires have also been lit in dustbins at the back of the Daniel O’Connell Monument, Cllr Flynn outlined. “It shows a lack of respect for a very important monument but it indicates that there is a significant amount of anti-social behaviour on our streets and laneways, I’ve walked a number of laneways earlier today on Parnell Street that we’ve spent a huge amount of money upgrading them and it is a pity to see people are using them as public toilets, there are two public toilets provided in the town but now shopkeepers and people are having to go out and clean this up, the outdoor staff in the Ennis Municipal District have a lot of issues to deal with because of a lot of rough sleeping, anti-social behaviour and a lack of respect for public health issues”.
