Tipperary car-park fees risk keeping shoppers away, councillors warn of impact on trade

A local dispute over car-parking charges has become a symbol of uneven policy-making in County Tipperary. More than a decade after North and South Tipperary County Councils merged into a single local authority, fee structures still vary widely across the county. Clonmel, the county’s largest town, endures the highest charges.

READ ALSO: Kenneally major decisive in Moneygall's narrow win over stubborn Éire Óg Annacarty

Richie Molloy, a councillor for Clonmel, argues that the policy is costing the town business. He notes that the principal car park on Mary Street offers only half an hour’s free parking—a period he calls “very tight.”

Once the school run resumes each autumn, he says, hundreds of parents briefly enter the town but then depart without lingering to shop. That, he believes, is a missed opportunity for local traders.

Mr Molloy contends that harmonising charges across the county would not only address a lingering inconsistency but also help Clonmel’s retail centre compete more effectively. For now, he says, calls for reform are “falling on deaf ears.”

The debate over parking in Clonmel highlights a broader tension in local policy: balancing revenue generation with the economic vitality of town centres. Without changes, residents and visitors may continue to be discouraged from lingering, leaving businesses to bear the cost.

READ NEXT: Festival in Tipperary celebrates Irish folklore, wildlife, and traditional customs