Answers sought as planned footpath linking Limerick village with local pub remains in limbo

A LONG-RUNNING call for the development of a footpath linking Kildimo village with the Beer Garden pub has resurfaced with Fine Gael councillor Adam Teskey criticising what he described as years of unfulfilled promises.

At the October meeting of the Adare–Rathkeale Municipal District, the councillor told officials that “the footpath to the Beer Garden in Kildimo has been a subject of discussion for over eight years,” despite repeated assurances from Limerick City and County Council that pedestrian infrastructure would be provided to facilitate people walking to the popular pub on the N69.

“We were promised and promised and promised, and as late as last year, we were given a commitment that it would be done in 2024,  but nothing arose of it. Nothing came out of it,” Cllr Teskey explained.

He said that despite multiple updates over the years, there has been no visible progress on the project.

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“I questioned the council around this time last year, and it went nowhere,” he said. “We got an update about eight months ago, but it led to nothing. The people of Kildimo are the ultimate losers in this, and it still remains very unfair and unsatisfactory in this day and age.”

Cllr Teskey added that he had been called in by management in relation to his previous questioning of council officials on the matter and described it as "getting a slap across the wrist" but said with nothing still being done the community’s frustration continues to grow.

Cllr John O'Donoghue noted a considerable amount of money has been spent on surveys, which he suggested was "several times the cost of the works".

As of yet, no start date has been provided for the long-awaited footpath works.

Director of Service, Vincent Murray, noted the N69 is a national secondary route the council is "beholden to TII".

However, he undertook to seek an update on the status of the project.