A Laois County Councillor has claimed that Durrow residents are 'annoyed' due to the heavy volume of traffic travelling in and out of Kilkenny, with residents reporting damages to their cars from passing motorists.

Independent Laois County Councillor Ollie Clooney has called for updates on the proposed one-way system at Mary street in Durrow, and the installation of a pedestrian crossing near the Church of Ireland chapel.

"Speed surveys were conducted the week of August 18," Laois County Council's Roads Department explained.

Pictured: Mary Street, Durrow. Photo: Google Maps

"Stage 1 road safety Audit and Quality Audits are underway as is the updating of the Design Drawings and Preliminary Design Report. All of these are requirements for submission to the TII.

"A submission will be made to the TII before the end of September 2025. On receipt of TII approval the next stage is the preparation of a Part 8 Proposal. Subject to TII approval and with no delays it is hoped to have the Part 8 published in December 2025 and completed in March 2026," the reply finished.

Cllr Clooney welcomed this news, and highlighted the heavy traffic on the narrow Durrow roads.

"The pressure is on here. Avonmore has grown bigger and lorries are bigger," he said.

"There's no room for two lorries coming down while there are cars parked on both sides. The whole thing has changed in the last few years, most of the traffic is travelling up there," Cllr Clooney explained.

Pictured: Tirlán, formerly Glanbia and Avonmore, on the N77 between Durrow and Ballyragget. Photo: G

"The traffic coming through Durrow travelling the Kilkenny road is the busiest road in Laois at the moment, believe it or not. It's just unbelievable, and it's backing up on the main road at certain times," he said.

"The traffic used to be going down the Cork road, but now it's all going up that one way. People are very, very annoyed. They are replacing mirrors on their cars, and they are getting nothing only abuse.

"When somebody breaks a mirror, even if you know who they are, the residents are only getting abuse. And they're talking about the IPAS there as well. I'll tell you one thing- this has to be done, because for people who are living there, it's a nightmare," Cllr Clooney slammed.

Mountrath Independent Cllr James Kelly supported Cllr Clooney's motion, acknowledging the issues along the Durrow road.

"There have been a lot of meetings about the issue, and a lot of meetings in Durrow over the last year or so. I welcome the fact that the speed surveys have been carried out, we have the experience of this in Mountrath with the parking and the one way system," he said.

Read Next: 'Busiest road in Laois' gets traffic congestion plan

"It's only right, it's a very tight situation trying to get in and out of Durrow. Even up there at the junction of the Derry road, it's tight there," he said.

"It's very hard to maneuver in Durrow, especially with the heavy goods vehicles. You need road safety and we just don't have it at the moment," Cllr Kelly finished.

Cllr Clooney also raised concerns over the relocation of the proposed pedestrian crossing in the village.

"The pedestrian crossing that I have sought for the last six years, is now being moved to the junction nearby. There are very few people crossing at that junction, all the people are crossing from the chapel to the hall," he said.

Pictured: The hall and chapel in Durrow located on the N77, beside the local primary school. Photo: Google Maps

"There's going to be a problem from Kilkenny with the traffic there. I see the pedestrian crossing is put there, they will be coming down that hill and the speed, something special would have to be put in there to slow down that traffic. It is a problem waiting to happen," he said.

Senior Executive Engineer with Laois County Council, Mr Rory O'Callaghan, replied that the crossing will be raised, featuring a four inch rise from the road.

i was speaking to housing, they are putting in a raised pedestrian crossing there, there will be a four inch rise from the road. 

"It's the position of the crossing that is worrying me," Cllr Clooney replied.

"I envisage the crossing to be on the Kilkenny side of the church, or opposite the church. Now it's moved down to the junction. There's no drawback on the traffic entering Durrow from the Kilkenny side," he said.

"That's where the problem is going to be, we're back to square one. There are elderly people going to that church- they are great people, but I've noticed they sometimes walk out and don't look left or right. That's a big concern for me. I was delighted to get the go-ahead for the crossing, but now i feel that its effectiveness will be reduced," Cllr Clooney finished.

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

Read Next: 'Disgraceful': Irish Rail slammed for delaying repair of 'accident waiting to happen' in Laois