Archive - Telephone kiosk vandals an issue right across Kilkenny (1973)

The people of Piltown have found a way of dealing with vandals.

Mr M Wall didn’t give details when he mentioned this at last week’s Kilkenny Co Council meeting, but he said that when people noticed that everytime they went to make a phone call at a public kiosk, they put a stakeout on the booth and dealt with the culprits themselves without calling the guards.

Garda investigation into criminal damage incidents in Kilkenny

“The kiosk is never out of order now,” he said. “There’s not even a pane of glass broken.”

Mr T Hogan said it was up to the public everywhere to ensure people who went about wrecking telephone kiosks should be dealt with.

In Tullaroan the people endeavoured to look after their own affairs without having to call the guards. He was glad to say that the local telephone kiosk had never been damaged.

Mr T Walsh said he was sorry to have to report that in Slieverue he had to report the kiosk out of order every other day.

Mr J Murphy said that in Ballyragget the kiosk had been torn asunder and a new directory had to be supplied every other week.

It was this vandalism which was making it so difficult for areas to get badly needed kiosks. The Department did not want to supply them as they were being wrecked so often.

The Council were discussing the refusal of the Department to provide a public kiosk in Stoneyford. They agreed not to accept the Department’s decision and press again for the amenity.

Ald K Crotty TD said that a resolution should be sent to the new Minister asking him to have a close look at the situation in Kilkenny. The situation was now ridiculous and it was virtually impossible to get numbers during business hours.

He was convinced that a large amount of business was being lost to Kilkenny on account of the poor telephone system. The Minister would have to do something.

NEWPARK FEARS ALLAYED
The fears of residents of Newpark lower were allayed at a meeting of Kilkenny Co Council last week.

It was pointed out that it is not planned to widen Ballybought Street North so they will not be losing part of their front gardens as feared.

As well, the Council plan to erect a screening wall between their properties and the new Council housing estate at Newpark.