‘Absolutely astronomical’ amount of dog poo at popular Carlow tourist attraction

There is an “absolutely astronomical” amount of dog poo at one of the biggest tourist attractions in County Carlow, a council meeting has heard.

Fine Gael councillor Brian O’Donoghue spoke on the subject at the March plenary meeting of Carlow County Council.

Cllr O’Donoghue first detailed how impressed a visiting family member was with how Carlow town is looking.

He stated: “I recently took a relation who was home from the UK out to Browneshill Dolmen and on the way there, they commented on how amazing Carlow town is looking. So congrats to you all involved there.

“Particularly the roundabout at Deer Park and how well that looks and the trees there outside O’Hanrahans and so on.

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“And then we got as far as Browneshill, and while they were very impressed with Browneshill, the level of dog dirt was absolutely astronomical.”

Cllr O’Donoghue continued by calling on the council to take action to address the issue.

“I know it’s an OPW site, but could we ask our litter wardens and the dog wardens to do a few extra patrols out there because what answer could I give only that it’s an OPW site and it’s their responsibility.

“We’re just going to have to try and tackle the level of dog dirt out at Browne’s Hill. It was just a disgrace for one of our biggest attractions to be so covered in dog foul, so if we can get that addressed.”

These sentiments were echoed by Fianna Fáil councillor Andrea Dalton, who detailed her own experience at a funeral.

Cllr Dalton said: “I was at a funeral recently over in Askea and the amount of dog poo outside the school there was atrocious.

“I’m no dog expert but it wasn’t a small dog it was a big dog. It was all the same, it was about every 10 metres, the same dog.

“Someone was walking the dog on the same track, and again thanks to the MD for cleaning that up.”

She added that as long as she has been on the council, dog poo, as well as littering, has been a “constant problem”.

In response to the two councillors, Chief Executive Coilín O'Reilly explained how there is only so much the council can do to address the issue.

“Between that and litter, it’s just down to poor human behaviour and no matter what we do, it’s very, very hard to overcome it, no matter how big the fine is.

“People know when there’s people around, they’ll pick it up and when there’s nobody around they won’t pick it up.”