Eir 'can afford to spruce up derelict-looking' West Cork buildings

Thu, 04 Sep, 2025 - 09:22

David Forsythe

Telecommunications provider Eir should “step up” and spruce up some of their buildings in West Cork some of which look derelict, according to a local councillor.

The issue was raised by Independent councillor Finbarr Harrington in a motion proposed to the recent meeting of Cork County Council’s Western Municipal District.

Mr Harrington’s motion asked: “That this council would write to Oliver Loomes CEO of Eir, and ask that they paint and better maintain many of their buildings around West Cork.”

Mr Harrington said: “Last year Eir made an operating profit of €263m and their pre-tax profits jumped 46% to €92m.

“If we look at the state of some of their buildings around West Cork at the moment like we have in Allihies, Bantry, Goleen, Clonakilty, Rossmore and many others, they look derelict and run-down.

“There are weeds growing all around them. In some cases they look so bad one would think that they are no longer in use.

"This is totally unfair on all the great tidy towns groups and many volunteers that do so much great work around our county, and on all the business retailers and home owners that keep their buildings looking nice.

“We need to call on the Eir management to make funds available to their maintenance people to make sure these buildings are kept looking nice and neat.

“Front line staff are doing all they can but they need the management at Eir to make funding available to them to carry out this essential maintenance. We as a local authority need to lean on them as much as possible to make this happen as they can well afford it.”

It was agreed to send a letter from the members to Eir management.