Once described as the prettiest village, residents now fear that Chapelizod in Dublin is becoming a ghost town.
In the past two years, forty-one families have left and it looks as if more are about to go.
The problems with the village relate to under development, lack of housing and bad roads. In an effort to find a resolution to the problems facing the village, Chapelizod Residents Association sent a deputation to meet Dublin Corporation to highlight the grievances of residents. The spokesman for the association was Séamus Ó Murchú, a schoolteacher who has been a Chapelizod resident for the past nine years.
Plans to widen the bridge in the village will have implications for the people that live nearby. Mr Ó Murchú points out that the widening of the bridge will mean the demolition of a 300 yard stretch of houses and questions hang over the rehousing of residents. According to Mr Ó Murchú most of those living in these houses want to stay in the village and the Residents Association wants them to be rehoused before the homes are demolished. A further bone of contention for residents is the steep hill that must be climbed to get to the Ballyfermot clinic. The clinic in Chapelizod was recently shut down. This hill is so steep, according to Mr Ó Murchú,
From a standing start, it takes a car all its trouble to make it to the top. Yet these people must go up that hill and walk a half a mile further on to the clinic in Ballyfermot. We want our clinic back.
Added to these problems are the poor road conditions and lack of street lighting, issues which are due to be addressed by funding from Dublin Corporation. While Dublin Corporation was invited to air their position, they declined the invitation. Despite all the problems facing Chapelizod and its residents, there is an air of hope with the construction of several factory buildings.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 21 August 1962. The reporter is Sean Egan.
