‘Damning indictment’ that border residents have no running water for up to ten hours, says local councillor

By Olivia Ryan, The Drogheda Independent

People living along the border are often up to ten hours without running water, it emerged at the January meeting of Louth County Council.

North Louth councillor, John Reilly, told the meeting that he lives just 700 metres from the border, where homes have suffered “for many years with inadequate water infrastructure.

“I also get a lot of calls from the Castleblayney Road area, the Sheelagh area and Creggan when the water is off.”

He said water supply would then comes from Knockbridge, and the pumping station in Kilkerley.

“There's a pumping house that builds up pressure and there's no water that goes down into Shelagh

"In Creggan there is no water for up to eight or ten hours.”

He said it was “a damning indictment in this council” that homes in the county are left without water in 2026.

"I only have running water from a well, I got electricity and put a pump in about six months ago. Yet our neighbours in the north all have running water. People just feel that the border area is forgotten about by the council.”

"I know that Irish Water are responsible for the water infrastructure, but surely as a council, it is damning on us that we can’t provide water to the people of the border area in this day and age.”

He said water had previously been provided for this area from Northern Ireland, “so the infrastructure was there, water can be brought in.”

He asked why water had been “cut off from the north, and an inadequate supply put in on our side.”

David Jones, Director of Service, Louth County Council, said that Uisce Eireann is responsible for water services.

But, he added the council were happy to raise the issue with Uisce Eireann during the next meeting with them.