Athenry News & Views Summer 2026

Summer 2026

Local Updates with Deputy Louis O’Hara T.D. Transport

to construction as quickly as possible. Road Safety Many residents have been in touch with concerns about road safety. We are waiting for the ESB to switch on the lights before the new pedestrian crossing at Quinn’s on the L3107 Monivea Road is opened, and I have urged them to progress this. Funding has been secured for traffic calming further out the road at Ballydavid to slow down traffic. Design work is ongoing, and works are expected to begin later this year. Consideration is being given to a new footpath outside Fern Hill/Stonehaven as part of these works. Design work is also ongoing for safety improvements at Cemetery Cross. Public Realm Enhancement This long-awaited upgrade to the town centre has faced significant delays. Galway County Council are awaiting designs from the ESB for undergrounding their infrastructure and from Uisce

Éireann for the replacement of the existing sewer service through Cross Street. Once these are received the project should proceed to tender. Affordable Housing ‘Affordable’ housing in Athenry shouldn’t cost €425k+. The 33 new affordable homes at Fearann na hEascrach are out of reach to workers and families currently locked out of home ownership. This is due to serious flaws with the Government’s affordable housing scheme, which determines prices based on open market value. I continue to push for genuinely affordable housing for Athenry. Office My office on Old Church Street is open Monday Friday and available to assist with any queries you may have. Don’t hesitate to call in or contact us if you need assistance – 0834262455 or louis.ohara@oireachtas.ie

The Minister for Transport has given a commitment that the 6.50am train service will be maintained beyond July. Thank you to the almost 1700 people who signed my petition to save this train service and establish a bus service for Athenry. This will be a relief to everyone who relies on this service. I continue to make the case to Government for the long promised bus to be funded and implemented. New School Campus The new school campus for Coláiste an Eachréidh and Gaelscoil Riada has taken a step forward as the Department of Education has confirmed that a Letter of Intent has been issued to the preferred tenderer. This means that the project is expected to progress to construction shortly, once a letter of acceptance is issued. The schools have been waiting 20 years for the new campus and I will keep the pressure on the Department to ensure it moves

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