Excitement as Laois playground reopens after eight months of works

There is great excitement amongst Laois little ones this week (and parents!) as a local playground has finally reopened to the public, after eight long months of necessary maintenance works.

Rathdowney playground, Darú na nÓg, has been closed from Monday, December 1 until Monday, July 13.

The playground first opened in 2012, with most of the playground's equipment made from wood. Fourteen years later, Laois County Council awarded €140,000 in funding to oversee the replacement of rotten equipment.

The playground's facelift also includes a new all-weather pitch, rubber ‘fall-friendly’ surfaces surrounding the central play area, and tarmacked paths replacing the gravelled paths through the park.

Rathdowney Fine Gael Cllr John King welcomed the news.

"I am glad to see that the works are now complete- it's the middle of the summer and the weather is good. I opened the playground myself at 2pm on Monday, with an ice-cream truck with free cones for the children playing there," Cllr King told the Leinster Express / Laois Live.

There was controversy and frustration from some local parents online, questioning the Cllr on the eight-month wait for these works to be completed. Some parents argued that it was 'ridiculous' that the playground was not completed in time for the school holidays.

Cllr King praised the fantastic work that has been carried out by contractors, explaining that the delay was due to shortages in manpower, stating that the 'pressure was put on' to get these works finished.

"The delay in the completion of these works is no fault of the Council. The work that has been undertaken is fantastic, and it's brilliant to have it done. It's a credit to the contractors. It comes down to their manpower in completing these projects," he said.

"The grants became available in February and March. There was an all weather pitch for the likes of Rathdowney, Clover United got an all weather pitch. It's the same company being contracted for all of these works. Ballyroan playground, which recently opened, had to be finished too," he pointed out.

"Ann Marie Maher must be praised for helping us secure the funding for this project. The work has now been completed, the playground is open and it's very good work that was done, it's a great thing for the town," Cllr King finished.