Portlaoise still waiting on Covid Garden of Reflection for Laois
'People were robbed of the opportunity to have normal funerals'
Two years since Laois County Council agreed to a request for a Covid place of reflection in a Portlaoise park, it is still not installed.
Cllr Marie Tuohy has again tabled a motion to the Portlaoise Municipal District.
She is continuing the request by her predecessor, husband Noel Tuohy who first proposed it back in 2021 and again in 2022 and again in 2023 by his wife.
The council had said in 2023 that work would start in summer 2024, after a council boundary wall was built at the People's Park entrance on the Timahoe Road.
Cllr Tuohy explained why it is needed, tabling her motion to the May 2025 meeting.
"In Covid, people were robbed of the opportunity of normal funerals. Elderly people would like to have a place to sit with their thoughts," she said.
"This was brought up by Noel in February 2022. We have looked for a couple of updates since but nothing took place. I am happy to hear it will be complete in the coming months," she said.
The small area of reflection is planned inside the pedestrian access to the People's Park, on the Timahoe Road.
Engineer Wes Wilkinson in reply told her that ORIS funding is approved, and work will start in Q3 (July, August, September) this year.
Cllr Tommy Mulligan seconded the motion.
"I fully agree, it's a lovely concept," he said, with Cllr Barry Walsh also in support.