Calls for a Louth landfill site to be transformed into a sports facility and park

Cllr Ciarán Fisher commended Kildare County Council on the conversion of a landfill site into a state of the art sporting facility and public park and has called for Louth County Council to follow suit. 

Kerdiffstown Park - a former landfill site in Naas, Co Kildare that caught fire in 2011 -  officially opened at the end of January and featues pitches, playgrounds, and a 5km walking trail.

The Independent councillor for Dundalk-Carlingford said the old dump land opposite St Helena's Park in Dundalk would make a “top-notch community facility” and pitches, running tracks, skateboarding park and basketball courts would transform it into a “sporting jewel” for the town.

Another playground in Dundalk vandalised over weekend

Playground at Coulter Place vandalised

Cllr Fisher said he believes the Dundalk site could be turned into an equally as impressive community space as teh one in Naas.

Above: Kerdiffstown Park in Kildare built on a former landfill site

Cllr Fisher said: "It is my understanding that the Dundalk site's gas levels are safe, and have been for some time.  

"Perhaps Kildare County Council's hand was forced by a disaster and they felt the need to give back to the community for the trauma they experienced, living beside that environmental disaster, and I salute them for the gesture.  

"We have a similar site, but we've a head-start in that we aren't beginning with a clean-up operation.

"We have a near green field site, close to the town, close to the river and St Helena's park and in the north of the town where the population is only growing that isn't suited for anything else!"