Appeal for repair works at cherished Mayo monument

A Mayo local election candidate Donna Hyland has highlighted the need for repair and maintenance works to be carried out on the well-known Pikes and Doves monument situated at the popular public amenity of the Market Square in the centre of Castlebar town.

The monument is a memorial to Castlebar’s association with the 1798 rebellion.

The Sinn Féin candidate stated: "The monument has some loose bricks at its left corner facing the public car park entrance.

"This monument is a symbol of Castlebar’s unique history and I do not think it should be allowed to fall into further disrepair.

"Repair works will need to be carried out before the problem worsens.

"There is weeds growing on the monument and they will need to be carefully removed.

"The monument is a situated at a popular meeting space so allowing it to fall into poor condition would not look well for the town."

Donna Hyland said next month Castlebar will host a 1798 music and history festival.

The festival will bring a lot of people to the town interested to see the sites and learn more about the history of Castlebar.

It would be important to have the monument on Market Square repaired before then, she added.