Swings and roundabouts over funfair visit to Carrick

- Veronica Corr -

Hudson’s Funfair, a fixture of the St Patrick’s Day festivities in Carrickmacross, submitted a request for a 10-day stay in Drummond Etra carpark, from Tuesday, March 10 to Thursday, March 19th, which was discussed at last week’s Carrickmacross-Castleblayney Municipal District (MD) meeting and granted in part.

Cllr Colm Carthy (SF) noted that, of those 10 days in total, the funfair wanted to operate for five full days. He wished to remind Hudson’s of their responsibility to residents, as the carpark adjoins an estate of the same name. He flagged noise concerns and suggested that the funfair consult with the residents in the area.

He later highlighted, for example, how Cassely’s Xtreme Funfair, which visited town over the June Bank Holiday Weekend during the town’s flagship Carrickmacross Street Festival, gave vouchers for the attractions to residents by way of thanks.

Fianna Fáil’s P.J. O’Hanlon agreed that the length of Hudson’s stay posed difficulties and pointed out that, in addition to the days operating, it would take another whole day to take down the amusements and move out.

“People will be living there through the whole hullaballoo,” Cllr O’Hanlon commented. Furthermore, he felt that the €2,500 fee being imposed on Hudsons by the local authority isn’t enough.

He suggested a meeting with Hudson’s, stating that is was not in favour of them staying in the carpark for 10 days. “I don’t think that’s fair,” the elected representative stated.

“We have to be fair to the residents and businesses. Half the carpark is taken up; the Post Office and shops are there. They should be out on the Wednesday,” Cllr O’Hanlon added.

Cllr Carthy agreed that this was a reasonable request, having suggested that they shave a day off at the beginning of the debate.

Following the debate, it was unanimously agreed that Hudson’s Funfair could come on Wednesday, March 11 and vacate on the following Wednesday, March 18, with a slight increase in their fee to €3,000.

Cllr Carthy reminded that the income is usually earmarked for a project in the area, given that residents are inconvenienced.