There is a renewed call for St Laurence’s Gate to be open to the public and a plaza – public space to be created around it.
The demand came from Community Activist Ann McVeigh, one of the original campaigners who persuaded Louth CountyCouncil to close the Gate to traffic in the first place.
She can’t believe we are now over eight years later and the public can not climb up the inside of the Gate with various excuses from health and safety, to the steps up it not being wide enough.
Tourists who come to see the historic Gate every day are disappointed that they can’t go inside it.
Ann said:” It’s been eight years and one day since the last car drove under St Laurence’s Gate . I still remember the thrill of it all. It was the culmination of a 15 month community campaign that reached the whole world.
“Safety concerns are usually the reason cited as to why the Gate can’t open to the public and reach its full potential.”
She told how she was over in Trim Castle recently and the steps there are really no different than St Laurence’s Gate.
She watched as over 50 people climbed the steps in two hours.
She refuses to accept that it is not safe to open the Gate and that if work has to be done to make it happen, then get it done.
Ann added:” Can we not push a little harder? I have to see tourists walking up to Laurence’s Street and taking a picture and walking back down the road.
“Even with my own terror of heights I make sure I climb the highest point of everywhere I visit just to see the views. Everyone in Drogheda who is able , should have the opportunity to climb the Gate.
She called on Louth County Council and the Heritage Council to come up with a plan to re-open the Gate and boost tourism in Drogheda.
Ann added:’ I would love to see all these great plans come to fruition and the Gate used to its full potential. We still need to keep pushing this to help further the tourism industry in our town.”
