Significant reduction in indiscriminate parking around Nowlan Park in Kilkenny

A local councillor has commended the gardaí on implementing a successful traffic plan at Nowlan Park last Saturday evening when Dublin and Kildare faced each other in the All-Ireland senior football championship.

In recent months there has been criticism levied at some matchgoers over indiscriminate parking with residents and business owners blocked from entering their property by illegally parked vehicles.

The matter was raised at a recent meeting of the Kilkenny City Municipal District and a number of meetings have taken place between residents, GAA and gardaí regarding appropriate traffic measures.

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Cllr Andrew McGuinness commended the gardaí on their strong presence around the ground during the clash on Saturday and described it as ‘positive progress’.

“I would like to commend the gardai for their work around Nowlan Park over the weekend. There was a very strong Garda presence in the area.

“I would also like to commend the GAA for their ongoing efforts in trying to inform people where they can park. They consistently advertise the available parking in their programmes and regularly use local media to highlight parking in areas like McDonagh Junction, County Hall and O'Loughlins. 

However, I would also like to encourage them to take on my suggestion of direct emails to all of those who purchase their tickets online, advising them of parking availability.”

During recent games we have seen indiscriminate parking on the green area at Newpark, outside businesses in the Hebron Industrial Estate and in many of the residential areas surrounding Nowlan Park. Thankfully, this was a lot better over the weekend with no indiscriminate parking on the green at Newpark but we have to be consistent about policing these areas during match days and working with the GAA to get the message out to match goers. 

“This is a historic issue but working together with the gardai, GAA, county council and local communities with persistence and consistency, I believe we can build on the positive progress we have seen over the weekend,” added Cllr McGuinness.