Funding needed to unblock arches of landmark Laois bridge
Government funding is needed to clear the arches of a landmark bridge in Laois .
There has been a large build up of silt in the arches of the historic Castletown Bridge for quite some time now, with local councillors repeatedly bringing the issue to the attention of Laois County Council .
Cllr Conor Bergin most recently raised the problem at a meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick MD in December 2025 upon the request of the Castletown Tidy Towns committee.
At the time, Laois County Council said an application would be submitted to An Coimisiún Pleanála in January for cleaning works on the weir, river and bridge.
However, almost 6 months on, the application has yet to be submitted.
Cllr Bergin reiterated the issues with the Castletown Bridge at the May meeting of the Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick MD.
He requested that Laois County Council in conjunction with Castletown Tidy Towns apply for funding from the Department of Rural and Community Affairs as well as the OPW for funding to clean the silt under the bridge in Castletown and the arches as well install a new sluice gate.
“The three arches under the bridge are completely blocked now. The silt has been building up for a long time and there is a need for a new sluice gate as well,” Cllr Bergin told the council.
He noted that last month, the Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure, Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation, Kevin ‘Boxer’ Moran, visited the site as well as local councillors and members of Laois County Council.
Cllr Bergin said that the Minister met with Castletown Tidy Towns and encouraged the group to apply for funding to the OPW.
The importance of the bridge as a tourist attraction was emphasised by Cllr Bergin and other councillors from the MD at the meeting, with Cllr Bergin pointing out that Castletown Bridge is one of the most iconic images used to represent the county.
Cllr James Kelly also added that the historic waterfall on the site attracts a huge number of people, especially during good weather.
“The bridge means an awful lot to the area and businesses in the village,” Cllr Kelly said.
Laois County Council informed the councillors that their ecological consultants are currently carrying out a Natura Impact Statement.
When this is completed, the council will lodge an application to An Coimisiún Pleanála for approval to carry out the works and they will submit an application for funding to the OPW.
They noted that the provision of a new sluice gate is not part of the current works and it will be reviewed with Laois County Council’s consultants and the OPW.
Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme