Works in centre of Offaly town takes 'big step forward'

THE ONGOING works at Green St in Birr have taken 'a big step forward', according to the local Council engineer John Mitchell, who said this is a big project which will significantly improve the link, the interconnectivity, between the Castle and the town.

John told The Midland Tribune that during the last week the ESB was on site and removed overhead lines and poles.

“This was a big step forward in the works,” he said, “and the street now looks smarter.”

The Engineer said it's expected to finish the improvement works in April or May of this year.

The proposal to create a new entrance at the end of the street linking the Castle to the town will take longer though.

“The new entrance is in the planning process,” remarked John. “We applied for planning permission. Then there will be a tender process. A specialist contractor will have to do the work as it's a specialist job. We hope the new entrance will be open in the third or fourth quarter of 2022.”

He pointed out that the new entrance is part of the Birr Public Realm Plan which advocates improving the connection between the town and the castle by creating a new entranceway at the end of Green Street.

When the new Green St entrance opens, the existing entrance opposite Marian Hall will remain open.

“The Green St entrance,” remarked John, “will be much better at getting tourists to explore the town a bit after seeing the castle, rather than simply moving on as so often happens. It will create a sense of symbiosis between the castle and the town.”

The work has included the relocation of buried services (pipes), the creation of tree pits, new granite paving and kerbing, ten new street lights. A street closure will be required this month to facilitate kerbing and paving at the Emmet Square end of the street.

During a recent Council meeting Cllr John Clendennen praised the contractors Dunnes Brothers from Mountmellick who have been on site since last June.

“They are doing a great job,” he commented, “and they are proceeding at a good pace.”