First off-Laois dog park nearing construction

It has been a longer lead-in than planned but the first off-Laois Dog Park is on the way for Portlaoise.

Laois County Council has given an update on its plan to install its first off-leash dog park, in Portlaoise's Triogue Linear Park.

They say that preparatory drainage works are completed, carried out by the Portlaoise Municipal District office.

"The office is awaiting receipt of quotations for footpath and fencing works.

"It is intended that these works will be commenced in Q3 (July to September) of 2023," said area engineer Wes Wilkinson.

He was responding to a request for an update by Cllr Marie Touhy.

"That is good news. We were expecting it to happen earlier. We all understand the need for this," she said.

Her motion tabled to the June meeting of Portlaoise Municipal District was seconded by Cllr Thomasina Connell.

It followed up on what was the final motion tabled by her husband Noel Tuohy who resigned his seat on health grounds last January. At that time, Mr Wilkinson said that funding permitting, they hoped to start developments between April and June and have it underway for the summer. 

The Triogue Linear Park is a town park that runs along the town's river and links Greenmill Lane road to Millview road.

Dog parks are enclosed areas where dogs can be allowed off leash to run about and socialise with each other. Other parks in Ireland set certain rules, such as the muzzling and leashing of any restricted breed or crossbreed, a maximum of two dogs per adult, and no dogs in heat. Owners must keep their dog in sight, clean up after them, and are still responsible for any actions of the dog.