Athy junction box may be 'incorporated' in Shackleton mural 

AN Athy councillor is very disappointed with the positioning of the ESB junction box erected in September right in front of the Shackleton mural on the gable behind it.

“They’re spending €7m on the Shackleton Museum, and another €3m on the Square – that’s a total of €10m. Then you have this fantastic mural from Creative Ireland (and artist Eloise Gillow) that was unveiled for Shackleton’s 100th anniversary last year by the Norwegian Ambassador,” said cllr Aoife Breslin.

“Athy is trying to promote Shackleton, so you can imagine when the museum is finished and a visitor is looking out the new glass and they see that dirty grey box? I question the thinking, and wonder who allowed that box to be put there? If it can’t be moved underground, then put it into the carpark, and sacrifice one of the car parking spaces". 

This was the gist of the motion she brought to the most recent meeting of members of the Athy Municipal District in which she again raised the question of the poorly located box.

“That the council, with other relevant agencies, could move the recently installed power unit at the corner of Meeting Lane, and in front of the Ernest Shackleton mural,” she implored.

However, the formal reply did not raise any new hopes.

“The new ESB substation is required to facilitate power requirements for both The Shackleton Museum and Emily Square as the existing substation on Barrow Quay, does not have sufficient capacity,” explained Annette Keaveney, the acting senior executive engineer with the strategic projects and public realm Team.

“The need to maintain the openness and accessibility of the proposed upgraded square and the requirement to maintain unhindered access to existing buildings, ruled out locating the substation on Emily Square,” she continued.

“The parking area at the junction of Meeting Lane and the R417 (Carlow Road), was identified as being the preferred location following assessment of available options by the design consultants, Kildare County Council Project Team and the ESB.

“Existing underground services dictated its exact location, along with the requirement to maintain parking on Meeting Lane, and possible future plans to locate electric vehicle charging points here.

“The strategic projects and public realm team are looking at the possibility of engaging the artist who was commissioned for the mural, to look at what can be done to incorporate the substation into the mural and minimise its impact,” said Ms Keaveney.

Cllr Breslin, however, disagreed.

“To put it there is ridiculous, and it is disingenuous to the artist and a disrespect to art to suggest the artist now incorporate the box into the mural,” she said.

“I was walking the town the other day, looking at a number of situations with the directors of service for public realm, and planning, and they were sympathetic,” said Cllr Breslin.

“(director of services Annette Aspell] will have meetings with her team. I suggested putting further charging points at the other end of the car park".