'49 dog years' waiting for a promised Portlaoise dog park

Laois dogs are waiting "49 dog years" for the chance to run off the leash in the county's first dog park.

That is seven years for humans, and it has turned into "a bit of a saga" according to Portlaoise Municipal District Cllr Marie Tuohy.

It was her predecessor and husband, Noel Tuohy who first tabled motions asking for a dog park for Portlaoise.

The site is chosen and the park is planned to go ahead by Laois County Council but the wait goes on.

The fenced dog play area will be inside the Triogue Linear Park, which runs from Green Mill Lane to Millview.

"I know we have had very bad weather but I don't think it should take this long. This came up in Noel's time in 2017. Days later 500 people had signed a petition in favour of it.

"Realistically, when will it happen?," she asked.

District engineer Wes Wilkinson said in a reply that works will start in quarter 2 (April to June) this year, "subject to weather and ground conditions being suitable".

"So definitely by the end of this year?" Cllr Tuohy queried.

Mr Wilkinson said "yes".

Cllr Thomasina Connell had seconded the motion.

"You mention this to people and their faces light up. A lot of people have dogs. It's important though to have rules in the park, such as whether dogs are muzzled. It would be great to have it in place before winter," she said.