Concern for future of Kilrush street

IN requesting that Kilrush town manager, Nora Kaye investigate the possibility of applying for an Urban Renewal Scheme for Moore Street in the town, Councillor Tom Prendeville invoked the words of Oliver Goldsmith in The Deserted Village.

In the poem, which depicted Ballymahon in Longford, Goldsmith lamented the death of the hamlet, which was once enlivened by bustling activity.
Describing Moore Street as “desolate and deserted”, Councillor Prendeville said 20 private houses in the street are now empty, as are 20 commercial premises.
He also said that just two houses on the street have children under the age of 12 living in them and that the population has fallen from 500 people in the 1960s to just 95 today.
“Moore Street to me is beginning to lose the will to live,” Councillor Prendeville said at last week’s town council meeting.
Councillor Prendeville, who grew up on the street, suggested that a residents’ meeting be held to examine the future of Moore Street.
“Where do we go from here? What sort of a street would you like to see in the future,” were some of the questions he felt should be addressed at the proposed meeting.
Councillors Liam O’Looney, Ian Lynch and Liam Williams agreed that the street needs a facelift.
Councillor Lynch proposed a rate relief, while Councillor Williams suggested that a rate derogation should be applied.
However, in reply, Ms Kaye said that she wasn’t aware of any legislation where a property can be declared exempt from paying commercial rates.
“In my youth, the street boasted a garda station, post office, courthouse, theatre, travel agency, church and it was a thriving commercial centre,” Councillor Prendeville reminisced.
“Immediately off its main thoroughfare ran Brogue Lane, Malthouse Lane and Factory Lane, where the butcher, the baker and indeed the candlestick maker ensured a level of self-sufficiency for the West Clare capital,” he added.
Councillor Prendeville said the challenge for the council is to look to the town development plan as a vehicle towards devising an effective urban renewal plan for the street.
“Tourists going to and from the car ferry get their own first impressions of Moore Street. To them this is a street that is badly in need of a resuscitation,” he stated.
However, Ms Kaye said that the chances of acquiring an urban renewal scheme for Moore Street are remote. She explained that such a scheme would need to have been granted permission before December 2004 and work would have to have started before July 2008.
“I will continue to maintain close contact with the Department of Heritage and Local Government and the Department of Finance to ensure that if there is a possibility of a window being opened, that Moore Street would be included,” the town manager added.