€10.5M for roads in Bailieboro-Cootehill over next three years

Over €10.5M is to be spent on regional and local roads throughout the Bailieborough-Cootehill Municipal District (MD) over the next three years.That’s according to Cavan County Council, which announced its Roads Programme 2025-2027 during a meeting of the MD on Monday. Those gathered heard that €3.5M will be spent on maintaining and resurfacing local roads in each of the next three years - 2025, 2026 and 2027.

The roads earmarked for next year include Barrack Street/Virginia Road towards Lisgrey Gardens in Bailieborough Town; Bailieborough Junction towards Keenan’s Filling Station along Shercock’s main street, the L2026/3503 from Carrickallen to Brady’s Piggery; the L6030/6031 Aghateeduff Road, Ballyhaise - Phase 1 from R188 to Cross Junction at rear of gem oils; the L7575 Ballynamona - Blackhills Lower where a section of road will be completed from piggery road to the Teevurcher Road; the L7504 Killygrogan Road from N3 to Sravicnabo Road; and the L7567 Muff Cross to Drumcrin where Phase 1 from Muff Cross towards Lough an Lea will be carried out.

Meanwhile, in 2026, the R165 Kingscourt Road from main street to the Tesco roundabout in Bailieborough will get attention, as will the R165 Cavan-Bailieborough Road from Drumanespick to Tullywaltry; the L2028 Dernakesh Road section from Dernakesh Cross at Wedlocks towards Latully Road Junction; the L6116 Corraneary Road section from Corranery Cross towards Knocknalosset; the L7589 Seefin Moylet Link Road section from R165 to Moylet Road adjacent to Lough Acurry; the L2005 Bracklagh Road (John Tully’s Road) from Treehoo Cross to Drumherriff at Fays; the L3552/3548 Galbolie Cross to Dromore Road - Phase 1 Galobie to Kilinkere; and the L75781 Relagh Beg from the R191 at Smiths Pub to the next four crossroads at L7577.

And, the 2027 programme also indicates works on the R162 Shercock-Kingscourt Road from Taghard to Lisagoan; the R191 Bailieborough-Cootehill Road from Murdocks Lane to the crossroads at Jacksons Steel; the L3548 Drumcarrow-Monghanoose - Phase 2 Galbolie to Killinkere (Dromore Road to Galloncurra Lake); the L3534/L3532 Drumbar to Corraneary - Phase 1 of Mile Line Road (Border towards Muff Cross); the L6030 Aghateeduff Road, Ballyhaise - Phase 2 from Cross Junction at the rear of Gem Oils towards village; and the L5544 Leggykelly Road from Killyfana Road towards the N54 at Leggykelly.

Cathaoirleach of the MD, Cllr Sarah O’Reilly (Aontú) said that, while all public representatives had roads in their own areas that they would like to see works carried out on, she appreciated the executive's hand when “dividing the loaves and fishes” on the matter.

She then asked how many kilometres of road would see works carried out and she was told 11km in total. “That is down from 20km a couple of years ago,” Cllr O’Reilly remarked before laying the blame for this on the rising costs of materials, supplies, etc. “I know the council has prioritised roads but there are roads in this area that are disintegrating and I want to know if there is a contingency plan in place for them?” she asked.

Town Manager, Clinton Mulligan then told those at the meeting that, if roads disintegrate, funding for repairs must come from the council's own resources - "discretionary funding".

Cllr Carmel Brady (FG) added: “I am glad to see that some of the roads are being done because there is one in particular where one side of it is completely gone. We need to keep the roads as best we can and hopefully we will be able to get more funding.”