McCourt seeks expanded public Wi-Fi and cleaner railway bridge
Free public Wi-Fi could be expanded into Mullingar town centre and the town park if technical and budgetary hurdles can be overcome, councillors were told at the December meeting of the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad.
Cllr Julie McCourt asked whether the district could extend its public Wi-Fi service beyond its current locations, noting that access around the town centre and park would benefit people at times when the library network is unavailable.
In response, officials said Westmeath County Council currently operates a single WiFi4EU connection point at Harry’s of Kinnegad, using a 10 Mb broadband service, the fastest available when it was installed.
While an upgrade could be explored, it would require discussions with the building owners.
Extending Wi-Fi into Mullingar Town Park would involve checking broadband availability with internet service providers, coordinating power requirements with the ESB, and assessing the cost of any civil works. Indicative costs include about €55 per month for broadband and roughly €700 for the necessary IT equipment, both excluding VAT.
However, no funding for the initiative has been included in the council’s approved 2026 budget.
Cllr McCourt also raised concerns about the condition of the railway bridge behind the Newbury Hotel, asking that it be kept free of rubbish and broken glass on the steps and surrounding area.
The district confirmed that it already removes litter at the site as part of routine street maintenance but noted that the bridge itself is owned by Irish Rail.
Officials said litter control at the location will continue as normal.
Smart benches
A further suggestion made at the meeting by Cllr McCourt was that the Municipal District of Mullingar Kinnegad consider integrating smart benches in public spaces to modernise and enhance local areas.
The district advised that smart benches have already been installed in Fore and Multyfarnham and that potential funding sources will be examined to facilitate the installation of
additional units.