Illegal encampment back on Kildare road

ILLEGAL encampment moves back onto Newbridge ring road By Finian Coghlan “For the past three weeks up to 12 caravans with associated vans, flatbed trucks and cars have been parked on the path adjacent to Murphy’s international headquarters and the Primark national distribution centre at Greatconnell in Newbridge,” reported a local resident who wishes to remain anonymous to the Kildare Nationalist.

“The recently opened multi million euro Diageo facility is on the same road.

“This particular group return on a regular basis despite extensive attempts to prevent them doing so in the form of grass embankments along the road and the placing of concrete barriers all along the Newbridge South Orbital Ring Road (NSORR).

“Fires have been lit, and in the past dumping has taken place on a large scale from the same group, who are easily identified by the landscaping signs on the trucks”.

Kildare County Council (KCC) have put in berms earthen rampart] on the first half of this road, but not on the second half.

“The encampment started with three caravans, but it’s now a lot more than that, and I wouldn’t be surprised if it’s more than 12 now”.

He explained how this illegal encampment is different from the annual pilgrimage on The Curragh, which is for a religious gathering called the Light of Life.

“It’s ridiculous, really,” he continued.

“Private landowners should be more responsible for their lands”.

A local councillor contacted by the Kildare Nationalist described this as “ongoing”.

“The council will serve them with letters, they go away and then come back,” said Cllr Noel Connolly.

“It’s really a policing issue that doesn’t seem to be addressed for some reason.

“They seem to be migrant workers with signs on their vans so they can travel around to get work”.

Fine Gael Councillor Peggy O'Dwyer, has repeatedly described this encampments along the orbital road and surrounding areas as a "revolving door," noting that sites are cleared only for encampments to return.

Responsibility for managing waste and clearing the routes previously fell heavily on private developers or bodies, though sections of the new orbital road network have transitioned or are transitioning to being taken in charge by Kildare County Council.

The council has spent significant funds cleaning up accumulated waste, clearing streams, and installing physical deterrents—such as raised banks and blocks—along affected roadways.

Cllr O’Dwyer confirmed with the council yesterday morning (19 October) that the SORR has been fully taken in charge and is now the full responsibility of the local authority.