*Photograph: Patrick Comerford

Kilrush residents visiting the graves of their loved ones have put the need for additional street lighting in the West Clare town back into focus.

Installation of additional street lighting along the Shanakyle Rd to St Senan’s Graveyard has been sought in Kilrush. Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) tabled a motion on the matter at the January meeting of the West Clare Municipal District and also sought an update on the upgrade of street lights in Kilrush town to LED lighting.

Executive engineer of Clare County Council’s transportation department, Pat Lynch stated that no funding was available in the maintenance budget for the extra lighting along the Shanakyle Rd. The public lighting LED retrofit contract has been submitted with a proposed start in Cork this July, “as this contract requires the contractor to complete Cork before moving onto the next county it will be well into 2022 before they reach Clare and I am not in a position to give a date when the changing of lights in Kilrush will commence”.

Costs associated with upgrading “can vary significantly” depending on the wattage of the light or the condition of the bracket, the engineer explained. He was also unable to provide exact costs on the installation of new lights on an existing ESB poll compared with a new pole.

Cllr Lynch said he was contacted regarding a shortage of lighting on approach to St Senan’s Graveyard. With people feeling isolation a bit more during the third lockdown, he said it has resulted in visits to the graveyard as a source of comfort “but a couple of them have been caught out with the light”. He committed to spending some of his General Municipal Allocation on the lighting if a costing was forthcoming.

“I would love to have seen some bit of detail on the cost of the poles,” Cllr Shane Talty (FF) stated. He recalled a previous motion on new lighting which he felt was “dismissed” by the local authority. “Each pole is different but I’m pretty sure we could estimate within the nearest thousand euro,” he concluded.

Related News

2021
Thomond Park firm makes €366k operating profit on back of summer concerts
01052025_Council_Mary_McAleese_Michael_Cusack_Centre_0166
Michael Cusack Centre showcased in Hell for Leather
cows livestock 1
'Significant neglect of animals' on Ennis farm
Shannon_tree4
O'Gorman praised for 'exceptional term' as Shannon MD Cathaoirleach

Advertisement

Latest News
cows livestock 1
'Significant neglect of animals' on Ennis farm
cdsl agm 23-06-25 donal magee ronnie pyne 1
'I'll treat you all fairly' promises Magee following his election as CDSL Chair
Shannon_tree4
O'Gorman praised for 'exceptional term' as Shannon MD Cathaoirleach
MHP Sellors LLP win National Law Firm of the Year 2025 at the Irish Law Awards
MHP Sellors named Irish law firm of the year
shannon crematorium 1
Shannon Crematorium making average weekly profits of €10,125
Premium
Shannon_tree4
O'Gorman praised for 'exceptional term' as Shannon MD Cathaoirleach
shannon crematorium 1
Shannon Crematorium making average weekly profits of €10,125
cork v clare camogie 21-06-25 jennifer daly 4
'Barring we get the plague we'll be playing a quarter-final in Croke Park' - Carmody
cosmopoli tan 1
Shannon company fined €2.6k for selling sun-bed session to girl (15)
clonlara v sixmilebridge 21-06-25 colm galvin luke o'halloran 1
Clonlara overcome The Bridge to qualify for Clare Cup final

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Subscribe for just €3 per month

If you’re here, you care about County Clare. So do we. Did you rely on us for Covid-19 updates, follow our election coverage, or visit The Clare Echo every week for breaking news and sport? The Clare Echo invests in local journalism and we want to safeguard its future in our county. By becoming a subscriber you are supporting what we do, will receive access to all our premium articles and a better experience, while helping us improve our offering to you. Subscribe to clareecho.ie and get the first six months for just €3 a month (less than 75c per week), and thereafter €8 per month. Cancel anytime, limited time offer. T&Cs Apply. www.clareecho.ie.

Advertisement