Laois Councillor slams road work delays that have led to online abuse

A Laois County Councillor has urged the Council to undertake road resurfacing works in Rathdowney, as the delays have led to a smatter of online abuse from locals.

At the February sitting of Laois County Council, Rathdowney Fine Gael Cllr John King has called for the repair and resurfacing of Rathdowney roads following 'ongoing unaddressed requests'.

Cllr King requested the Council repair and resurface roads at the Card Stand in Rathdowney, Donaghmore, and Manor Stone filling station in Ballacolla.

"This request from me is ongoing for far to long, and now following on from the recent bad weather, these roads have gotten much worse," Cllr King said.

"This in now an emergency," he argued.

Pictured: treacherous bends in Donaghmore, Co. Laois.

The R-433 Main Street in Rathdowney was included in the 2025 Roads Programme in 2024, along with the R-435 road from Rathdowney to Donaghmore. 

Cllr King shared at the Council's February meeting that he is receiving abuse on social media due to the Council's roadwork delays. 

"I am stressing it again today, there have been so many times I have mentioned the roads in Rathdowney, from the Card Stand to Church Street," Cllr King said.

"We all know how bad it is. Even on Facebook last night, I got a fierce going-over from locals on this. It was an absolute nuisance, but I have to say that Facebook is giving people a chance to air their views," Cllr King said.

"This issue has been going on for years in Donaghmore," he said.

Senior Engineer for Laois County Council, Mr Rory O'Callaghan, replied that the Rathdowney and Donaghmore roads are on the Roads Plan.

"The R-433 Main Street, Rathdowney is included in the 2025 Roads Programme." Mr O'Callaghan said.

"The R-435 Donaghmore is included in the 2025/2026 Roads Programme. The R-433 road condition rating at the Manor Stone Service Station has deteriorated due to the recent severe weather.

"The Municipal District will review the Roads Programme, once approved, and will prioritise this section of roadway for treatment," he said.

Cllr John King thanked Mr O'Callaghan for the reply, and expressed his frustration at the delays. 

"I know it is on the programme, but I want a definitive answer today. I want to know that when the road programme starts in two or three months time, that Donaghmore and Rathdowney will be done as top priority," he stressed.

"It's going on far too long. Anyone who passes through the village knows this. It has to be done, it must be done," Cllr King urged.

"It will be done," Mr O'Callaghan confirmed.

Independent Cllr James Kelly seconded Cllr King's motion.

"I second this three-in-one motion, and I fully support Cllr King in this," Cllr Kelly said.

"I have been approached a few times on this issue. The Donaghmore road is terrible, there are bad bends, but we can reinstate the road hopefully," he said.

Cllr King explained that Laois County Council have been in contact with a local landowner to work to remove the sharp bends on the R-435  in Donaghmore.

"You see all the stones that are there, there could have been an old path there years ago," Cllr King explained.

"The road can be resurfaced as it is, but its the embankment on the left hand side, its full of clay and stones," Cllr King finished.

This motion was tabled at the Borris-in-Ossory / Mountmellick Municipal District of Laois County Council.