THE “poor condition” of both sides of the road adjacent to Hermitage’s Grotto was highlighted at a meeting of Ennis councillors, with a senior engineer suggesting a thin surface overlay may provide a solution for residents.

The condition of the road was raised by Councillor Pat Daly at the Ennis Municipal District meeting. “The road is seriously in need of upgrading, it has not been done in many, many years.”

Paddy Tiernan, Acting Senior Executive Engineer informed the meeting that the Ennis Municipal District will put forward this road for inclusion in the Schedule of Municipal Works for 2023. “Subject to inclusion and associated funding this road will be upgraded in 2023.”

Councillor Daly welcomed the response, saying the grotto is “a hugely popular area in the middle of the ‘Tage.”

Seconding the motion, Councillor Mary Howard said an upgrade is “long overdue”. The road is made of concrete, with Councillor Howard saying there are a lot of older residents in the area and the surface makes a lot of noise. “I always wonder how they sleep.”

Ian Chaplin, Senior Executive Engineer outlined that a thin surface overlay was used on concrete roads in Shannon and this approach may be a solution to the Hermitage road.

Councillor Clare Colleran Molloy asked if this could be used on other areas of Ennis, with Mr Chaplin saying it would depend on the council’s funding allocation. Councillor Ann Norton supported the upgrade of the road at the grotto.