'Disappointing' vandals strike Laois construction site of new walkway

Laois vandals have hit the construction site of a new public walkway, twice in a week, to the disappointment of locals.

Mountmellick is getting a new community walkway across Smiths Field, to provide a properly lit path for students, residents and sports clubs to take a shortcut from Harbour Street to College Avenue.

The work is part of a major renovation of Smiths Field by Mountmellick United FC soccer club and Laois County Council.

It began on May 28, to last two months, but within days construction fencing and a portable toilet were knocked over. 

Mountmellick Tidy Towns has condemned the damage.

"Small rant folks & we make no apologise for it! Volunteers are the back bone of every, Town, village & cities globally. Groups of like minded people with an interest in where they live trying to make a difference for young & old alike.

"Mountmellick Utd FC are one of those clubs with great plans to expand & develope their club. In March this year they got planning permission to extend and develop Smiths Field. Preparation work has begun by way of a pathway to join Ballycullebeg/Kirwan Park area to the bridge at College Avenue but for some reason this seems to have upset a few young or old we're not sure, but they decided to vandalise it already. Why is what we'd like to know, as a project like this can only enhance the town we live in and it can be used by all in the community benefiting young and old," the group said.

Cllr Paddy Bracken has also criticised the vandalism.

"I am very disappointed to see the vandalism that has taken place. This is a project to give connectivity across the whole town from The Harbour to Mountmellick Community School. It will be a great facility if it's respected.

"It will be lit up, enhancing the whole area and making it safe for schoolkids to walk. I fought for this for a long time," he said.  

Image of the work planned by Mountmellick United FC, by Insight Architects.

The secluded field has a history of attracting anti-social behaviour and crime.

Most tragically is it the site of the murder of innocent young teenager Darragh Conroy in 2003. His convicted killer has since died. The town's playground had to be removed from it after it was damaged and burnt multiple times.

Laois County Council bought almost 10 acres of it in 2024 from Mountmellick Parish for €250,000. The parish agreed a long term lease to the soccer club for the other part of Smiths Field.

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Mountmellick United FC soccer club has received planning permission and €350,000 funding to build a multi-use floodlit astroturf pitch for many sports to use, as well as a lit circular walkway, and a footbridge over the Owenass River connecting to their Conor Davis Park grounds. The club plans multiple fundraisers to pay for their share of the works.

Laois County Council intends to build about 26 new council houses on the other half of the field as well as car parking and another playground for residents in the general area.