Entrance to new Garda Station means people 'won't feel the same' about Tipperary plaza

The “whole dynamic” of the Kickham Plaza in Clonmel will change when the town’s new Garda Station is built because the entrance to the station will face directly onto the plaza and encroach upon its performance space.

That was the claim made this week, with work on the construction of the station scheduled to commence soon.

Local man Eugene Dargan has voiced his opposition to the plans for the new station, saying that “people won’t feel the same about the plaza” because its “whole dynamic” will be different.

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The Mayor of Clonmel, Pat English, has requested the Office of Public Works (OPW) to take another look at the plans and see if the entrance could be redesigned so that it wouldn’t interfere with the plaza.

Cllr English welcomed the construction of the new station, which will replace the existing station in Emmet Street, and which has been described as not fit for purpose because of its poor condition.

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However, he said that half of the existing canopies at the plaza will be removed when the new station is built, and the performance area will be directly outside the entrance to the station.

The Mayor said that the plaza, which was officially opened by Minister Darragh O’Brien in February of 2023, has been a great asset to the town. So many festivals have been held there and it is a place where the community gathers and celebrates.

Cllr English is Chairman of the highly successful Clonmel Busking Festival, which is held each year, with several events taking place at the plaza, on the site of the town’s former army barracks. He expressed concern that the entrance to the new station would interfere with the activities of the town’s festivals in the future.

Meanwhile, Eugene Dargan has suggested that the new station should be “turned around” so that its entrance would be facing in the opposite direction, and not onto the plaza.

He has called upon the Chief Executive of Tipperary County Council to contact the OPW and demand a meeting so that another look could be taken at the plans.

He said that the front entrance of the building should face Dillon Street. In that way the existing railing, shrubbery and canopies at the plaza could remain in their present location. This would also facilitate callers to the station, who could park their cars in Dillon Street and near the station.

“The plaza has been used as a meeting place for people and I don’t want that to change”. He said that events held there, such as last year’s homecoming reception for Olympic medal winners Daire Lynch and Philip Doyle had been “absolutely fabulous”.

Mr Dargan said that people needed to be aware of the plans because they hadn’t come up for discussion anywhere.

“I and others are not willing to give it a go because if it doesn’t work out it will be too late. I really hope that the people of Clonmel will look at this, inquire and ask the council to meet with the OPW”.

He said that the plans had been only available to inspect at the garda station in Emmet Street and the new Garda Immigration Office, which is located nearby.

“People would be reluctant to go to either building, it’s not like looking at the plans in the county council offices,” he said.

Meanwhile, Thersia Guschlbauer, who is Director of Applefest, another of the town’s successful festivals, said she is in favour of the plaza being used for all kinds of purposes, including the new garda station. She says that the station would increase pedestrian traffic in the area and that could only be a good thing. The garda station would also make the area safer and combat any possible anti-social behaviour.

However the proposed removal of half of the canopies at the plaza is something that should be “thrashed out” with the OPW, and she hoped they could be restored once the new building is completed. It would be a waste of taxpayers money if this didn’t happen.

She also said that when performances were taking place on the plaza, visitors to the Garda Station could use the side or rear entrance.

Work on the new Garda Station will take just over two years to complete, with most of the work due to be completed by November 2027.