Shelia Cahill Business Support Unit Laois County Council, Carla Maderia Austen Landscape Architects, Liam O’Neil Mountrath Town Team, Councillor James Kelly, Tim Austen Austen Landscape Architects, Margaret (Marge) Moore Town Team & Tidy Town Lead, Denise Rainey Town Regeneration Officer Regeneration Section Laois County Council, John Cass Regeneration Section, Paul Phelan CE Scheme Mountrath /Tidy Towns, Lesley Cowper Regeneration Section at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff Harvey
The people of Mountrath turned out in impressive numbers recently for a vibrant and highly engaging Public Information Evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk.
The event, held in the Liath Luachra Suite at Bloom HQ, was filled with residents, business owners, and community stakeholders, all eager to learn more about plans to regenerate and enhance some of the town’s most valued public spaces.
Hosted by Laois County Council’s Regeneration Section in partnership with Mountrath Town Team, the evening was part of a broader effort funded under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme to create greener, more sustainable and community-friendly environments in Mountrath.
The night saw an enthusiastic and engaged crowd explore detailed visualisations and proposals for enhancing biodiversity, accessibility and amenity value across the Riverwalk, Quaker Burial Ground and Patrick Street.
Attendees were encouraged to interrogate the plans, ask questions, and offer feedback.
“We were absolutely thrilled to see such a strong show of support and interest from the people of Mountrath,” said Denise Rainey, Town Regeneration Officer.
“Even with the bad weather, the room was full of energy and ideas.
“The conversations were thoughtful, challenging, and constructive—and that’s exactly what we need to create a shared and meaningful vision for the future of this town.
“I want to thank everyone who came out, asked questions, shared ideas and made their voices heard.
“The community support from Mountrath Town Team with significant investment from Mountrath Tidy Towns who will have a lead role in maintaining new landscaping and the wider community have been essential in developing and moving the plans forward.”
Picture: Jeff Harvey
The event sparked rich discussions about how these changes can serve the diverse needs of the community now and into the future.
Many participants commented on how heartening it was to see the plans not only presented clearly but to have the chance to engage directly with the landscape architects who designed the proposals.
Picture: Jeff Harvey
As the regeneration process moves forward for Mountrath, input gathered at this meeting will help refine the plans, ensuring that the works are meaningful, inclusive, and locally grounded.
The next steps will be to put the works out to tender, the costing responses thereafter will determine what works are actioned next for Mountrath.
Members of the public discussing plans at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff Harveyat the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff HarveyMembers of the public discussing plans at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff HarveyTim Austen Austen Landscape Architects and members of the public discussing plans at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff HarveyMembers of the public discussing plans at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff HarveyMembers of the public discussing plans at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff HarveyMembers of the public discussing plans at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff HarveyMembers of the public discussing plans at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff HarveyMembers of the public discussing plans at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff HarveyMembers of the public discussing plans at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff HarveyShelia Cahill Business Support Unit Laois County Council, Carla Maderia Austen Landscape Architects, Liam O’Neil Mountrath Town Team, Councillor James Kelly, Tim Austen Austen Landscape Architects, Margaret (Marge) Moore Town Team & Tidy Town Lead, Denise Rainey Town Regeneration Officer Regeneration Section Laois County Council, Lesley Cowper Regeneration Section, Pat McSpadden, Mountrath Tidy Towns & Heritage Society, Paul Phelan CE Scheme Mountrath /Tidy Towns, John Cass Regeneration Section, at the public Information evening on proposed enhancement works to Patrick Street and the River Walk in Mountrath held by Laois County Council at Bloom HQ. Picture: Jeff Harvey
