Locals sick of promises of ‘next year’ for council funding in Limerick village

BALLYORGAN is the gateway to the Ballyhouras but locals believe its potential isn’t being unlocked.

Aidan Gleeson, chairperson of the Glenroe / Ballyorgan Community Council, said it is a very picturesque and quaint area with fertile farmland and a mountain backdrop.

He said the close knit community have struggled with the same challenges that many areas have of “under-resourcing of isolated places and not having a population big enough to attract the political will to address their problems”. 

“There are efforts to source funding from the local authority to address the poor public lighting and crumbling footpaths which have been neglected for many years. This forces walking groups to use the middle of the road to navigate the hillside village, and as everyone knows forcing pedestrians and vehicles to use the same space is not best practice. 

“The community has been repeatedly promised that next year, there may be funding available to address their needs and one of these years that may actually be true,” said Mr Gleeson (pictured below demonstrating urgent repairs that required in Ballyorgan).

The prominent farmer and former chairperson of Limerick IFA. said in the meantime the people of Ballyorgan are moving ahead to provide for themselves “as they always have”.  

“Ballyorgan is now marketed as a hub for mountain walking. The community has established a pre-school and after school service to encourage young people to live in the area, and, of course, the Village Inn is a source of entertainment, music and fun. 

“There is still work to be done  and the community has been working for a decade or more to reverse the decline in the area by lobbying for services and facilities to meet the needs of the locals and tourists alike,” said Mr Gleeson. 

He said there are efforts to develop the school field for use as a social space with amenities to benefit the community and visitors alike. However, infrastructural improvements by the council in Ballyorgan would give  a big lift to the village and parish.

READ MORE: New 2025 calendar launched by Dromcollogher group

Ballyorgan, in past generations, was a centre for artisan skills, housing all the trades needed to service a village and adjoining estates. It had two churches to administer to the spiritual needs of its mixed faith population. There was a blacksmith, tailor,  creamery, post office, shop and school. 

Over the years, one by one, they have lost a lot of the services they had or provided for themselves. 

But Ballyorgan’s community is fighting back.