Stoney Road in Laois lives up to its name

THE notorious Stoney Road in Laois is living up to its name, causing a litany of damage to cars.

The busy but rocky route to Camross GAA Club was highlighted at a council meeting this week, when there was an urgent appeal for resurfacing.

“It’s called the Stoney Road and it has actually turned into the stony road now. The surface is very, very bad,” Cllr James Kelly told the January meeting of Borris-in-Ossory/Mountmellick Municipal District (MD).

He pointed out that the stretch of road in Derrynaseera, Camross has a high level of traffic because of the GAA club, as well as a lot of heavy goods vehicles.

The Independent councillor from Mountrath proposed that Laois County Council ‘as a matter of urgency prioritise road resurfacing on the Stoney Road to Camross GAA Club’.

Senior engineer Rory O'Callaghan confirmed that this section of the L-1037-0 local road is included in the council’s 2026 road restoration improvement programme, so works will go ahead this year.

Cllr Kelly stressed that the Stoney Road should be prioritised in the programme, as he said: “I hope this would be one of the first roads to be done, because it's causing a lot of damage to cars.” 

He also asked for resurfacing of lay-bys along the road, as it was important for HGVs to be able to pull in safely amid constant traffic.

Meanwhile, Cllr Seamus McDonald called for urgent repairs along the road at Cappanrush, Ballyfin.

Mr O'Callaghan replied that the L-21007-0 at Cappanrush is not included in this year’s roads programme but the council’s area office will continue to maintain the route.

He added that the road would be considered for future programmes but all works depended on ‘available budgets and resources’.