A Laois County Councillor has argued that Ballacolla has been ‘ignored and forgotten about’ by the Council for over 20 years, likening conditions in the village to that of a third world country.

Durrow Independent Cllr Ollie Clooney tabled a motion for the Council to provide additional lighting on the Clough road in Ballacolla.

Laois County Council’s Roads Design office replied that existing lighting will be assessed, and that any additional lighting will be subject to funding.

Pictured: The Clough road, Ballacolla. Photo: Google Maps

“One of the oldest women in Laois lived in this area, and she died six weeks ago, Lord have mercy on her. You would be absolutely ashamed to be a Councillor, in this area at night time,” Cllr Clooney said.

“You wouldn’t see your hand in front of your face. There are no poles there for lights, that’s the problem. I would have put up lights out of my discretionary fund, but there are no poles to put them up on,” he said.

“You need about six lights there as you come into the village, Ballacolla has got absolutely nothing in the last 20 years, it is a forgotten place. I aim to rectify that. I have to insist that these lights go up. It’s a third world place, that’s what it is,” he said.

Rathdowney Fine Gael Cllr John King seconded this motion, arguing that funding must be found.

“I don't know what to say about money now. Money will have to be found. It’s very troubling to submit 18 notices of motion, with issues in 13 or 14 all due to money. It’s sad and we’re only starting off the year, there won’t be a bob left in September or October,” Cllr King said.

Cllr Clooney argued that footpaths along the Clough road also flood in sections.

“There’s a footpath there but some of it floods, you’d have to walk off the footpath onto the road, if you had a pair of shoes on you,” he said.

“It’s a third world place, that’s what it is, it’s ridiculous. We have to get our share, the same as everyone else, these rural villages. 

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“We are paying our taxes, paying rates where we have our businesses, and we are getting nearly no services whatsoever. There were public representatives there over the years, I think the foundations fell way below the standard. These are basic services. They were not provided in Ballacolla,” Cllr Clooney finished.

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