Rejoicing over Borrisokane project completion

Local representatives joined last week in praising Tipperary Co Council and the people of the town on completion of the long-awaited street resurfacing project in Borrisokane.

For years a subject of at times tempestuous debate, the new surface through Borrisokane was welcomed as an overall successful job, completed in a year when the council achieved a great deal of roadworks despite the delays and shortcomings of Covid-19 restrictions.

At the December meeting of Nenagh Municipal District, Cllr Michael O'Meara recalled the condition of Borriskane's main street being talked about when he became a councillor in 2004. A drainage and stormwater scheme ensued - as well as another long-sought road improvement scheme at Congar - and it is great to now see the local section of N52 brought up to standard, Cllr O'Meara said.

He praised the people of Borrisokane for their patience and resilience in the matter, saying local residents and businessowners deserve particular praise. Cllr O'Meara said special thanks is also due to District Director Marcus O'Connor for steering the project from the start through to its successful conclusion.

In support, Cllr Ger Darcy said the town is looking well now at the end of the two-year works project. He also praised the council, contractor and people of Borrisokane, though he said attention must now turn to the roads used as diversion routes while the Birr road was closed to repair a culvert.

Cllr Darcy said Transport Infrastructure Ireland must contribute towards the Fir Park road in particular, which was “destroyed” by diversion traffic. The Ballyfinboy road also suffered damage as it was used by motorists as a “shortcut”.

Cllr Joe Hannigan spoke of the great sense of relief at having the Borrisokane scheme “just about finished” after so many years of setbacks. The completed project would prove a “catalyst for the town to progress”, Cllr Hannigan said. He also underlined the urgency of repairing the diversion roads and said the council should spend from its own resources in lieu of TII funding if necessary.

District Engineer Barry Murphy said the diversion routes had taken an “absolute hammering” and would require substantial repair work. The council would be seeking funding from TII.

Mr O'Connor agreed that the completed project would revitalise Borrisokane and encourage an enhanced presentation of premsies along the street. He also commended the people of the town on their patience given all the difficulties with the project, especially the culvert repair, and he said the people of Borrisokane deserve the newly improved street.

Thanking the councillors for their praise of roadworks generally, Mr O'Connor said the problem had always been that the council did not receive enough funding for roads. “We can do it if we get the money,” he said, looking forward to greater roads allocations again in 2021.

Cllr John Carroll said the local councillors should also be praised for their work in bringing the Borrisokane project to a successful outcome. “You took an awful lot of flak,” he recalled of the situation. “We don't always compliment the public representatives for what they do.”