BY JEROME HUGHES
EFFORTS to repair a dangerous footpath outside St. Conal’s Church in Doochary are intensifying as the community rallies behind 90-year-old campaigner, Mary Kelly.
Local residents claim the footpath has gone without resurfacing for three decades, and within the past two years, a pensioner needed hospital care after tripping on the path.
“Yes, that woman had to be hospitalised. Thankfully, she still comes to church but she now uses a stick so as not to fall again on the footpath,” according to Mary.
Despite nearing her 91st birthday, Mary continues to drive her car and serves as the church sacristan, responsible for preparing the altar and maintaining vestments for mass.
She claims her concerns surrounding the footpath are being ignored by Donegal County Council.
“I wrote to Donegal County Council a few weeks ago to ask them to repair the area around the entrance to the church. Last year, I was able to get private funding to tarmac the yard inside the gate so it would be nice to get the footpath done.
“I didn’t get any response from the council this year or last year despite sending emails, phoning them and chasing them up. They have never even given me an acknowledgment, never mind a proper reply to my letters,” claims Mary.
Patience with the council in Doochary is waning, particularly for Mary, who is determined to continue fighting for the footpath to be fixed.
“The council should not ignore me. That’s not very good. In fact, it is very bad manners. If they responded by saying they’ll do the work later this year or early next year, we could at least argue the point with them.
“The Doochary Development Committee has also raised this issue several times. There is no footpath on the other side of the road so that’s why this issue is so important,” said Mary.
“There are not many young ones in Doochary, to be honest with you. It’s mainly older people going to church and so the footpath is a big issue locally. We have an elderly population.
“It would only take a bucket of tar to make a good job of it. They could have done it while resurfacing the local road last year,” added Mary.
Andrea Redmond is Secretary of Cumann Forbartha – Na Dúchoraidh, Doochary Development Group and Doochary Tidy Towns.
“We’re very concerned that more elderly parishioners will fall on the footpath outside the church.
“The woman who hurt herself two years ago is a very important part of our community and she did a lot of work here before the fall. She was hospitalised, has now recovered, but has ongoing health issues that may or may not be related.
“I understand that the council is busy and we are just one small area but this is not a huge job. Even patching the path up might be a solution,” according to Ms. Redmond.
Regarding the controversy, Donegal County Council issued a statement to Donegal News.
“Overhaul of the footpath at this location has formed part of numerous funding applications in recent years that have been unsuccessful. The
Local Community Group has been updated on this during 2023.
“The cost to upgrade both in terms of width and surface are substantial, and the Council will continue to seek appropriate funding, and continue with localised maintenance in the meantime.”
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