A FOOTPATH or not a footpath, that is the question in Kilmihil.
A meeting of North and West Clare councillors last week heard a motion from Cillian Murphy calling for the installation of a footpath along the Main Street of the village, from the entrance to
the People’s Park to beyond the HSE centre in the village
In a written reply, however, senior executive engineer Alan Kennelly said that there actually is a footpath in place, though he acknowledged there were “issues” with it.
“There is a footpath in place on the southern side of Main Street Kilmihil, between the People’s Park and the HSE health centre.
“The footpath lacks definition in places as there are several accesses crossing, and houses / premises are of differing set back distances.
“There is also an ESB pole right in the middle of one narrow section of the footpath – which impedes access.”
Councillor Murphy said that the “critical words” in the reply related to the lack of definition on the path.
He said that the area can be “very confusing for pedestrians”, while he said it behoves the Council to add the definition required.
He also said that the presence of the pole could be an issue for people with mobility issues or those pushing buggies.
The motion was supported by Councillor Ian Lynch, who said he had received a lot of representations on the issue recently.
Owen Ryan has been a journalist with the Clare Champion since 2007, having previously worked with a number of other publications in Limerick, Cork and Galway. His first book will be published in December 2024.