Halloween bonfires down by one-third
By Mary Dennehy
THERE were 114 less bonfires across Tallaght and Clondalkin this Halloween compared to last year, a 33 per cent reduction which will save South Dublin County Council thousands of euro.
However, the provisional figures will still see the local authority pay out in the region of €35,000 to clear and reinstate ground destroyed by 121 bonfires in Tallaght and 113 in Clondalkin.
Last year, 348 bonfires were lit across the county which cost the council in excess of €50,000 in clean-up costs.
According to provis-ional council figures, bonfires in the county dropped to 234 this year – with the number in Tallaght down from 197 to 121 and in Clondalkin, 151 to 113.
These figures are being branded as positive by the council, considering the dry and mild weather.
Speaking at this month’s Joint Policing Committee, the reduction in bonfires was attributed to education and the staging of alternative events for families and young people to attend.
The collaborative and proactive approach by members of An Garda Síochána and South Dublin County Council was also recognised, with additional resources provided by both organisations in the run-up to October 30 – which included the detection and removal of stockpiled bonfire material.
Billy Coman, head of the council’s Housing, Social and Community Development, said: “Call me the Halloween Grinch, but this one night causes so much damage in our communities and we still have a bit of work to do.
“The reduction in the number of bonfires is welcomed, but we have more awareness to raise and we have to get to the parents.
“The approach this year made an improvement and while it was a learning curve, I think we discovered that working together is best – and resources need to be made available.”
The JPC also agreed that getting the support of local businesses is vital, with more than 600 tyres recovered in one community but no reports of stolen tyres received – which suggests that businesses are leaving out unwanted items.
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