WE’VE a song about the pub with no beer. Now there’s a village fountain without any water.
The historic fountain given to the village of Adare by the First Lady Dunraven has gone dry.
Its 150-year-old supply from a well in the grounds of Adare Manor was cut off three years ago, and it has remained dry ever since.
A call on Limerick County Council to connect the fountain to the village supply was rejected on the basis it would constitute a waste of treated drinking water.
PD councillor Rose Brennan said: “I have asked the council if they can provide a water supply or connection for the village fountain, which is a protected structure and focal point in the centre of Adare village.”
Limerick County Council’s director of services for transport and water supplies, Donal Brennan said: “The water source for the fountain was originally provided from a private well from the Manor grounds.
“It would appear works were carried out approximately three years ago on the Manor grounds, resulting in the water supply being interrupted.
“It would not be desirable or sustainable to allow treated drinking water from the public supply to run to waste, via the fountain.”
The fountain near the Trinitarian Abbey catholic church on the main street was given to the village by Caroline Wyndham, First Countess Dunraven more than 150 years ago.
Lady Geraldine Dunraven, who is married to the Seventh Earl of Dunraven, said yesterday: “The history of the fountain, which is a protected structure, goes back to a major fire which broke out in the estate office in the manor.
“Local people rushed to the scene forming lines passing buckets of water to fight the blaze. As a gesture of gratitude, Lady Caroline donated a fountain which was erected in the centre of the village.”
She said it would be nice if the original supply could be located, and the old connection put in place.
Jimmy Woulfe
© Irish Examiner
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