JCB sub contractor described by Kildare resident as "The closest thing to God and a miracle I’ve ever witnessed!" as village residents finally 'break out'!

"He is the closest thing to God and a miracle I’ve ever witnessed!" is how one Kildare resident, Kerrieanne O'Sullivan described a JCB driver at work today. Murt Scully, sub contracted by Kildare County Council, managed to free up the Ballymore Eustace to Hollywood Road - miuch to the jubilation of local residents hemmed in since Wednesday last.

Residents along the Kildare-West Wicklow border literally danced a jig with joy as the stretch from Golden Falls/Saw Mills upwards was finally cleared!

Ballymore Eustace village which is located in a valley has experienced horrendous snow drifts and blocked roads more so than most communities. As of today, Monday 5 March, Ballymore Eustace Community Text Alert has been receiving messages from frustrated householders in the Dowdenstown, Slievrue, Tipperkevin and Greenhall upper which still reports drifts of over 6 foot.

Members of the Marsh and Murphy families in Dowdenstown (above) had no option but to get out and clear the road themselves, as tractor clearance ended before the stretch of road to their homes.

Residents on the Ballymore to Hollywood road were isolated completely from the Golden Falls/Saw Mills junction but finally, work commenced today and one elated resident supplied the photos here at 3pm, captioned ‘Freedom, at last!’ (Photos Gwen Lynham).

Yesterday, Sunday 4, the snow plough itself got into difficulties on the main R411 BME to Naas Road, and had to be rescued by Martin Clarke and his tractor. A lorry also blocked the road and exacerbated the situation.

Throughout the afternoon, the local Community Text Alert posted messages of problems on the Barretstown Road, road passed St Mary’s Cemetery and the Bishophill/Blessington Road, which were all cleared eventually but still not suitable for small cars to traverse.

As the BME to Hollywood Road was cleared today, homeowners cheerfully posted messages of jubilation on social media from “Halleluia!”, “Freedom!” to “It’s a miracle, we can get out!" Neighbours in Two Mile House, Mullacash and Coughlanstown area were also rescued by sub contractor Martin Clarke, but as in the photo below, many on the rural roads got together and did a little digging themselves, to make the road accessible via Coughlanstown West!

l-r Lloyd Fitzharris, Tommy Flaherty, TMH; Shane Browne, TMH; with David Mehigan who supplied some shovels and hence the group is named Dave's Roadies, along with Odhran Lawlor, Chris Bourke and Alan Kelly, from TMH (kneeling).

Areas of West Wicklow such as Manor Kilbride, Lacken, Ballyknockan and Valleymount (also Lisheen and Brittas) were also badly hit with families expressing frustration and fears for health and supplies on social media. Cllr Gerry O’Neill’s social media proved an informative platform over the weekend as he forwarded stress messages and pointed contractors in the direction of the worst hit areas.

Cllr O’Neill also advised residents when the JCB and snow ploughs were expected to reach areas, and again pleaded with people not to take out vehicles unless it was 100% necessary. “Dublin Council are working to Crooksling from the Dublin side and Kildare CC have worked to Glending Forestry from the Kildare side so the best option is the Naas Road to Dublin but again for ESSENTIAL use only” he warned yesterday and added “There still remains huge problems for people in more isolated areas.”

Featured photograph shows Jason Griffith freeing up rural roads in West Wicklow over the weekend. Photo Cllr Gerry O'Neill on FB.