Birr gaelscoil appeals for better driver awareness near premises

Pupils and parents at Gaelscoil na Laochra in Birr are this week calling on the local community to increase driver awareness near their new school on Tullamore Road.

Parents are asking drivers who are turning in and out of the Lidl carpark to take care and to slow down, especially when school starts around 9.10am and again when pupils finish at 2pm and 3pm.

Príomhoide Niamh Uí Chléirigh said “there have been several near misses at the turn in to the carpark since the school relocated in January 2024.

“Parents and school management do not want to see anyone get hurt or injured due to a lack of awareness that there is vehicle traffic and pedestrians coming to and from the school”.

The school’s Board of Management are in contact with Lidl Ireland and they have also consulted with Offaly County Council regarding new signage. However, getting signage through these official channels is a slow process.

The school does have a large sign directly opposite the exit of Lidl’s carpark that clearly says the school is now open.

In the interim, “everyone at Gaelscoil na Laochra is asking drivers to take care when turning at Lidl carpark, for everyone’s sake,” the principal concluded.