Councillors weigh up merits of street canopies for Mullingar as debate over existing ‘umbrellas’ resurfaces

A proposal to install street canopies or umbrella-style shelters in key locations across Mullingar and in the town park sparked a wide-ranging debate at the December meeting of the Mullingar Kinnegad Municipal District.

Tabling the motion, Cllr Julie McCourt said similar installations in Athlone and Delvin had added vibrancy and visual appeal, and she believed Mullingar could benefit from both shade and shelter. She said a woman recently caught in a sudden downpour in the town park had highlighted the lack of covered areas.

“It would be aesthetic and inviting. People would use those spaces more if there was shelter, whether from rain or sun,” she said.

District officials said they would work with organisations such as the Chamber of Commerce to assess suitable locations and identify funding sources.

Support for the principle was widespread, but several councillors cautioned that previous umbrella-style shelters installed across the district had met mixed success.

Cllr David Jones said the Delvin canopy was rarely used and had been poorly designed, since there was a pole in the middle, which meant seating could not be provided in it, unlike the one in Castlepollard.

Pointing out that they cost in the region of €15,000, he suggested alternatives such as flower beds or pollinator planting might offer better value, but added that Mullingar would likely find productive uses for shelters if properly designed: “Don’t go for the one with the pole in the middle,” he warned.

Director of services Deirdre Reilly clarified that the council had interpreted Cllr McCourt’s request as referring to street-hang umbrella displays – like those used during the fleadh – not the large standalone Covid-era canopies installed in some towns. She conceded that the latter had been problematic: “The one in Castlepollard is basically used for cars to park under. There are probably better homes for those.” However, she said the council would not oppose providing new forms of shelter in appropriate locations.

Experiences

Cllr Denis Leonard said the Kinnegad canopy was only used when the nearby bus shelter leaked, but seating planned under the structure in 2026 could improve that.

Others countered that the Castlepollard canopy is now well used after Tidy Towns installed seating beneath it. Cllr Alfie Devine said young people regularly gather there: “When the seat went in, you wouldn’t believe the amount of use it gets. They [young people] said it was the best thing to come into the town.”

Cllr Andrew Duncan also supported the motion, noting the frequent wet weather in Mullingar: “It’s a good idea, but design and placement are crucial. Maybe it doesn’t have to be an umbrella – perhaps a more substantial shelter.”

Cllr Niall Gaffney added that maintenance must be factored in: “They take an awful lot of cleaning and can be prone to moss growth,” he said, though he agreed that with proper upkeep and design, they can add value.

Next steps

Director Reilly said the district engineer will review existing canopies across towns and examine whether they should be relocated, enhanced with seating, or repurposed entirely. Options such as smart benches paired with canopies could also be considered for places like the Market Square.

“We’ll look at each of them individually over the next year,” she said. “Where they’re not in the right place, we’ll find a better home; where seating is needed, we’ll address that.”