'Has to be completed' - Pressure grows to complete Kilkenny's Ring Road

Further political pressure has been pumped on to the Department of Transport to complete the Ring Road in Kilkenny.

Local Fianna Fáil TD Peter 'Chap' Cleere and city Labour Party councillor Sean Ó hArgain both highlighted the need for the road's completion when discussing the issue of traffic congestion near the site of the new CBC (formerly CBS) school on the Dunningstown Road. - MORE DETAILS IN THIS WEEK'S KILKENNY PEOPLE

"The Ring Road is absolutely the most important piece of infrastructure that Kilkenny needs to get in the next 100 years. That Ring Road has to be completed," Deputy Cleere said.

A sentiment shared by city Labour councillor, Sean Ó hArgain.

"We need to see urgent action on it (the Ring Road). We need to see it move ahead as quickly as possible," he claimed, insisting it’s a 'major contributory factor.'

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Earlier this year, Minister for Transport, Darragh O'Brien committed to looking at the Ring Road project in 'great detail' ahead of funding allocations from his department later this year for the 2026 to 2030 period.

The comments from the minister came at the official opening of the new Rosehill Bridge, a new pedestrian and cycling link connecting Coote's Lane to the Ring Road.

Minister O'Brien claimed he 'understands the importance' of the Ring Road project and the desire there is to see it completed by people locally. 

Former Mayor of Kilkenny, Cllr Andrew McGuinness politely requested the Department of Transport 'do their best' to re-explore the project, bringing an end to the long-running saga.

"I may take the opportunity minister, you spoke about accelerating delivery and you have been in Kilkenny for so many positive occasions over the years and I had the honour of meeting you as mayor on so many different occasions for various openings," Cllr McGuinness said.

"The most positive opening that we envisage in Kilkenny, that we're hoping you will accelerate the delivery on is the completion of the Ring Road.

"It would be remiss of me to not take the opportunity when we have all five of our sitting TDs here and our Minister for Transport here to make that point," he continued.

"I know that we've all made it again and again and I know that you're doing your best  to make that dream a reality.

"It would be the most vital part of infrastructure for Kilkenny City and County that we would see delivered. So we would really appreciate it if you could do your best to do that for us," he concluded.

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