Fianna Fáil man steps in to quench Laois Fine Gael flare up

A Laois Fianna Fáil councillor had to step in to stop a row flaring up between two Fine Gael representatives at a recent meeting in county hall.

Cllr Paddy Bracken stepped in swiftly at a recent Borris-in-Ossory Mountmellick Municipal District meeting after Cllr John King took issue with his colleague Cllr Conor Bergin.

The two have had a fractious relationship on previous occasions at District meetings. Another flare-up looked on the cards after Cllr Bergin tabled a motion calling on Laois County Council to assist the committee in Clonmeen Graveyard, Errill in carrying out repairs to the wall and addressing drainage issues in the graveyard.

Cllr Bergin said a lot of smaller cemeteries in Laois needed to be maintained. He said some of the committee members had contacted him about the Clonmeen cemetery. He said the work required was not extensive just some piping. 

David O’Hara, Senior Planner, replied in writing.

“The Dept of Housing, Local Government and Heritage administers two grant schemes annually, namely the Historic Structures Fund and the Community Monuments Fund. Under these schemes, community groups can apply for funding for the type of works outlined in this notice of motion. The deadline for submission to the Dept is February each year and the schemes are advertised in November/December the previous year. The Planning Dept will work with the Committee in order to bring forward an application under one of these schemes to secure funding to carry out the required works,” he said.

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Cllr Bergin was concerned that neither of these schemes would suit the work required in Errill. He added that expensive, extensive paperwork and reports were required to qualify for funding.

“There should be funding for the smaller privately owned graveyards that do not fit under any scheme,” he said.

When he concluded, Cllr King challenged his colleague with a question. He asked: “Did you visit this graveyard”?

Cllr Bergin replied: “I was asked by the committee”.

Just as Cllr King was about the probe his colleague further, Cllr Bracken quickly stepped in.

“Hang on Cllr King - be fair…It doesn’t matter whether he did or he didn’t (visit),” he said.

He added: “I am not chairing a meeting and letting that happen. The  motion is there and has been addressed.”

At this, Cllr King did not proceed further but said he believed the cemetery referred to by Cllr Bergin was in another location.

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The issue arose at the District's March meeting and contrast with the February meeting when Cllr Bracken and other councillors congratulated them on the new 'unity and harmony' they had demonstrated when jointly tabling a motion.