Green light for lighting upgrades in Ballybay-Clones MD

Public lighting upgrades have been prioritised for the year ahead in the Ballybay-Clones MD.

A survey was presented at the April meeting of elected representatives. District Coordinator Matthew Lambe revealed that the public lighting budget for the county was €80,000, with a third of that or €26,667 earmarked for projects in the wider Ballybay-Clones area.

Nineteen public lights were installed in 2025, with one in Newbliss, 10 in Killeevan, four at Loughmourne and four in Threemilehouse.

Mr Lambe recommended that the first two on the waiting list: the Cootehill Road at Abbotts and Fermanagh Street in Clones should be prioritised for 2026. Six lights are needed at Abbotts at a cost of €18,100; while nine lights are required at a cost of €10,000 in Clones.

“With the allocation and the number of sites, there’s 10 years’ work there,” Mr Lambe conceded of the work yet to be tackled.

The estimated cost of projects that the MD cannot address in 2026, without further funding, is €270,350. At current annual funding levels, it would take a decade to complete.

Cathaoirleach Sinead Flynn noted that a lot of work had gone into the report and thanked those involved. “Fermanagh Street, Clones was highlighted during a Monaghan Women’s Assembly safety audit. I am delighted and very much in support of the Fermanagh St lighting upgrade.”

Cllr Richard Truell observed “(Analore Bridge) Killeevan is in twice, it might be down to nine years now!”, referring to the potential wait ahead.

He noted that the most expensive item on the review was third on the list. Rockcorry on the Cootehill Road to the school requires 18 lights at a cost of €72,700. “I don’t know if it’ll ever be done. Is it so expensive because there’s no ducting in the road?” the Fine Gael representative asked.

Mr Lambe explained that ducting was included in the price and that it could be installed behind the footpath.

Waiting list

Other areas still on the waiting list include the Newbliss Road, Clones, where eight lights are required at a cost of €36,700; Analore Bridge at Killeevan requires four lights at a cost of €17,350; at Monaghan GAA’s Centre of Excellence in Cremartin three lights are needed, costing €14,200; in Aghabog from Latnamard School junction to Carn Resource Centre, 11 lights are required at a cost of €20,100.

Meanwhile,

in Ballybay, Meeting House Lane would benefit from three lights at a cost of €12,700; over in Rockcorry, seven lights are sought at Trinity Chapel costing €26,950; St Livinius’ Church, Killeevan needs four lights at €16,450; Cemetery Road, Corcaghan requires five lights at €23,200; Corcaghan’s ‘Pub Road’ needs two lights at €17,350 and the rear of Lisdarragh Housing Estate in Newbliss needs five lights at and estimated cost of €20,950.

Castle Lane Newbliss was also on the list, but the number of lights needed and associated costs has not yet been determined.

Cllr Pat Treanor, expressed his disappointment that the wait would continue for the Lisdarragh estate in Newbliss.

“There has been an ongoing issue there for residents… It has been on the list for 20 years and is not getting any nearer the top,” he said.

Referring to an Active Travel project in the village, the Sinn Fein public representative commented: “The road has no lights on it. In order to be able to make use of investment already made, we should find a way to get it carried out.”

He added that Castle Lane had been added to the list since the houses were built. Cllr Treanor conceded, however, that the first two items on the list should be completed in 2026 as recommended by the executive.

Fine Gael’s Seán Gilliland also supported the suggested projects, adding: “We have to start somewhere. There is clear evidence of lack of funding. No public area should be without lighting in this day and age.”

He also noted that Analore required lights for 20 years. He asked if there were any other funding sources or schemes available.

When Cllr Flynn suggested CLAR, the MD Coordinator said that some community development organisations could look at CLAR.

Cllr Truell asked about the project at Abbotts, Cootehill and Mr Lambe informed him that Low-Cost Safety Scheme funding was incorporated.

It was unanimously agreed by the four councillors present to proceed with the first two projects on the list. Cllr Seamus Coyle was not in attendance.