Drogheda streets reopen following lights collapse

Drogheda’s town centre reopened to traffic this morning (Tuesday) after four days of disruption caused by the collapse of part of the Christmas lights installation, which pulled masonry from a building at the Tholsel and struck a passing car.

Louth County Council crews worked late into Monday night and the early hours of Tuesday to secure the affected buildings and complete the necessary scaffolding and safety screening. With the structures stabilised, the exclusion zone was lifted early this morning and full access restored to West Street, Peter Street, Laurence’s Street and Shop Street.

The reopening comes as welcome relief for hard-hit traders who endured one of the most challenging weekends of the Christmas season, with footfall badly reduced and diversion routes sending shoppers away from the town centre.

Local Fianna Fáil Senator Alison Comyn praised the council teams who worked through the night to make the reopening possible.

“Well done to Louth County Council’s crews who worked overnight to get the buildings secured in Drogheda town centre and all the streets open to traffic,” she said. “It’s been a really tough day for everyone , businesses, shoppers and motorists alike — but there was a genuine concerted effort to rectify this as quickly as possible, on a local and national basis.

"Now let’s show those businesses the love and support they deserve. Make the effort to pop in, spend your money with them and keep them open. We have a wealth of family businesses in the town centre who need our support.”

Joanna Byrne TD also welcomed the reopening, confirming that West Street is fully accessible again this morning, with normal traffic flows returning. “In what has been a tough few days for businesses and traders in the town centre when it should be their busiest time of year, they put their best sides out and tried their hardest to muster through the fallout of something that wasn’t their doing,” she said.

“After four long days, it’s great to see barriers lifted and normality resume. Let’s bring some festive cheer back into the heart of our town and make an extra effort to shop and socialise local between now and Christmas. Drogheda is open for business, and needs our support more than ever before.”

The incident, which occurred on Friday afternoon during strong winds, caused the overhead Christmas lights support system to collapse, pulling down loose masonry from the building above. No injuries were reported, but the immediate safety risk led to the full closure of the Tholsel crossroads for four days.

Louth County Council says stabilisation works will continue behind the safety screening, but all routes are now open to the public.