Illuminating the Greenway Public Lighting Proposal for safe night time walking

Councillor Tony McCormack is urging Tullamore Municipal District to seek money under the 'Just Transition Fund' to erect lighting along the stretch of the canal Greenway connected to Tullamore. This is ''to allow people to walk safely during the darker evenings,” he said.

Councillor McCormack made his request at the February meeting of the municipal district.

Equipping the Greenway with lighting could significantly benefit the community, promoting safety, and encouraging physical activity.

Cllr McCormack said that ''during the Ashling Murphy court case, Ashling's sister had mentioned that someone had spoken to the family and said they would put lighting in place along the Greenway.''

The Fianna Fail councillor said he became aware of this during and interview with the Sunday World. ''I tried to find out who made the statement, to see where they were coming from and what they were trying to do.'' he said.

''In the longer evenings, you can't walk along the Grand Canal unless you have a torch. For women it can be quite intimidating and dangerous. I myself use it most evenings with a light and we go in a group of 3 or 4 every evening,'' he said.

''In a time when we are looking at trying to increase people's quality of life and trying to bring fitness back into their lives. I don't think it would cost a huge amount of money just to light a short patch of it.''

The motion was seconded by Cllr Declan Harvey, who said that since the tragedy there two years ago, women are nervous going down there. That incident has frightened a lot of people,'' he added.