Guard of honour had to lift hearse off speed ramp at Laois funeral

A councillor said a hearse got stuck on a speed ramp and had to be lifted off by a guard of honour at a funeral in Laois. 

Fine Gael Cllr PJ Kelly said the incident happened during a recent funeral when the cortege crossed over the speed ramp but the hearse got stuck. 

“A hearse traditionally has a longer wheelbase than any standard car or jeep,” Cllr Kelly explained.  

“I was in a guard of honour not too long ago and a hearse got caught on one and we had to lift it to get it off the speed ramp,” he said. 

The topic arose as Cllr Kelly was calling for the introduction of measures to slow traffic at Rath National School. 

Cllr Kelly tabled a motion asking “that Laois County Council investigate the possibility of creating a school zone area on the public road outside Rath National School, Ballybrittas to help slow traffic during busy school dropping off and collecting times.”   

“What I wouldn’t really be in favour of is speed ramps because I just take note of one particular school outside Abbeyleix,” Cllr Kelly told the meeting.  

“Seven new ramps have been put on that road. I go along with straw or tractor and trailer and cars actually start to overtake me on speed ramps because I have to go real slow. In that case there is too many speed ramps,” he said. 

In response to his motion, Senior Executive Engineer, Philip McVeigh said “Laois County Council will arrange to meet with the Elected Member at this location to review the scope of works required.”

Cllr Kelly thanked Mr McVeigh and said he would like to see the creation of painted road zones introduced before any other measures were put in place. He said some of the speed ramps can be a bit high.     

Laois Gardaí 'arrest' Grinch as Santa spreads Christmas cheer

Keeping the streets safe

The issue was discussed at the latest meeting of Portarlington Graiguecullen Municipal District.