Athy's Relief Road

The letter we sent to the Kildare Nationalist displaying our favour of a plebiscite in regard to the Relief Road.

Dear Editor,
As members of a long standing youth group in Athy, we wish to express dismay at a recent decision of Athy U.D.C. not to allow a plebiscite on the issue of “relief road”. As young people we have no affiliations with any political parties or as yet any great interest in their activities. We do however, recognise the huge contribution to our community that members of the U.D.C. give in a voluntary capacity, often without thanks or public awareness.

The people of Athy elect the U.D.C. to make decisions in the best interest of this community. However, successive Councils have been unable to make a final decision on the road issue. the present council is no exception. Therefore, why not ask the people of Athy to decide what they want? For this group of young people that must be the best decision the U.D.C. can make at present. in this way the matter can be put to rest at last, with the people of Athy giving a clear decision on what they want and with public support for that decision.

Lastly, we wish to emphasise that this is not about the road issue. it is about the refusal to allow a plebiscite which we see as being in the interests of democracy and fairness. In view of the depth of feeling concerning the road issue perhaps some may wish for their own reasons to read something else into this note. They will be wrong! Soon our age-group will inherit the town and when it does we expect our democratic rights to be intact!

Yours Faithfully,
Members-Aontas Ogra.

View the letter

To which the Nationalist Printed:

Friday, January 28, 2000 The Kildare Nationalist
YOUNG PEOPLE JOIN INNER ROAD DEBATE by James Fitzgerald
A youth group in Athy has strongly criticised what they see as the Urban District Council’s indecision on the matter of the inner relief road for the town.

In a statement to The Kildare Nationalist, members of Aontas Ogra have expressed their “dismay at a recent decision of Athy UDC not to allow a plebiscite on the issue” to go ahead.
“The people of Athy elect the U.D.C. to make decisions in the best interest of this community. However, successive Councils have been unable to make a final decision on the road issue. the present council is no exception.” the statement said.
This is the first time that any of the youth organisations in Athy has got involved in the debate surrounding the controversial road which has divided the town. Aontas Ogra was careful to point out that it was not necessarily against the road itself but that it wanted to see the people of the town decide whether or not to build it.
“Some may wish for their own reasons to read something else into this note. They will be wrong! Soon our age-group will inherit the town and when it does we expect our democratic rights to be intact!”
And despite the council’s decision, Aontas Ogra still harbours the hopes of having a plebiscite. “Why not ask the people of Athy to decide what they want? For this group of young people that must be the best decision the U.D.C. can make at present,” they said. However, the calls are unlikely to make any impact on the council’s decision not to hold a plebiscite. The vote, made in the December meeting of the UDC, was the second time in a year that they rejected such a motion. It would need a two thirds majority to rescind such a decision and there is no evidence to suggest that any of the councillors has had a recent change of heart on that particular issue.

View the scanned Article

MY OPINION...

I would just like to point out that we have recontacted the Nationalist and asked them to reprint the letter in its entirety. The journalist, James Fitzgerald has a reputation of putting his own "slant" on articles concerning the Relief Road and it is fair to say that our letter was warped to suggest other than what we wanted to say. We are in favour of a plebiscite but we have no opinion on whether the road goes through or not.

(This is the opinion of this Author and no way reflects the views of the rest of the members of the Aontas Ogra. If you have any problems with this statement ("My Opinion") please email me and enlighten me why I am wrong)

UPDATED: The Kildare Nationalist reprinted our letter in full eventually so we are happy now.

	The letter we sent to the Kildare Nationalist displaying our favour of a plebiscite in regard to the Relief Road. Dear Editor, As members of a long standing youth group in Athy, we wish to express dismay at a recent decision of Athy U.D.C. not to allow a plebiscite on the issue of “relief road”. As young people we have no affiliations with any political parties or as yet any great interest in their activities. We do however, recognise the huge contribution to our community that members of the U.D.C. give in a voluntary capacity, often without thanks or public awareness. The people of Athy elect the U.D.C. to make decisions in the best interest of this community. However, successive Councils have been unable to make a final decision on the road issue. the present council is no exception. Therefore, why not ask the people of Athy to decide what they want? For this group of young people that must be the best decision the U.D.C. can make at present. in this way the matter can be put to rest at last, with the people of Athy giving a clear decision on what they want and with public support for that decision. Lastly, we wish to emphasise that this is not about the road issue. it is about the refusal to allow a plebiscite which we see as being in the interests of democracy and fairness. In view of the depth of feeling concerning the road issue perhaps some may wish for their own reasons to read something else into this note. They will be wrong! Soon our age-group will inherit the town and when it does we expect our democratic rights to be intact! Yours Faithfully, Members-Aontas Ogra. View the letter
	To which the Nationalist Printed:
	Friday, January 28, 2000 The Kildare Nationalist YOUNG PEOPLE JOIN INNER ROAD DEBATE by James Fitzgerald A youth group in Athy has strongly criticised what they see as the Urban District Council’s indecision on the matter of the inner relief road for the town. In a statement to The Kildare Nationalist, members of Aontas Ogra have expressed their “dismay at a recent decision of Athy UDC not to allow a plebiscite on the issue” to go ahead. “The people of Athy elect the U.D.C. to make decisions in the best interest of this community. However, successive Councils have been unable to make a final decision on the road issue. the present council is no exception.” the statement said. This is the first time that any of the youth organisations in Athy has got involved in the debate surrounding the controversial road which has divided the town. Aontas Ogra was careful to point out that it was not necessarily against the road itself but that it wanted to see the people of the town decide whether or not to build it. “Some may wish for their own reasons to read something else into this note. They will be wrong! Soon our age-group will inherit the town and when it does we expect our democratic rights to be intact!” And despite the council’s decision, Aontas Ogra still harbours the hopes of having a plebiscite. “Why not ask the people of Athy to decide what they want? For this group of young people that must be the best decision the U.D.C. can make at present,” they said. However, the calls are unlikely to make any impact on the council’s decision not to hold a plebiscite. The vote, made in the December meeting of the UDC, was the second time in a year that they rejected such a motion. It would need a two thirds majority to rescind such a decision and there is no evidence to suggest that any of the councillors has had a recent change of heart on that particular issue. View the scanned Article
	MY OPINION... I would just like to point out that we have recontacted the Nationalist and asked them to reprint the letter in its entirety. The journalist, James Fitzgerald has a reputation of putting his own "slant" on articles concerning the Relief Road and it is fair to say that our letter was warped to suggest other than what we wanted to say. We are in favour of a plebiscite but we have no opinion on whether the road goes through or not. (This is the opinion of this Author and no way reflects the views of the rest of the members of the Aontas Ogra. If you have any problems with this statement ("My Opinion") please email me and enlighten me why I am wrong) UPDATED: The Kildare Nationalist reprinted our letter in full eventually so we are happy now.