Louth County Council has condemned a recent act of vandalism at the newly upgraded Moneymore playground in which fire damage has caused significant damage to the community facility.

Over the past year, the Council has been working to upgrade playgrounds across the county, with a focus on providing imaginative, inclusive play for children of all ages and abilities. Upgrade work to the playground in Moneymore was completed in October 2024.

The necessary repairs will involve the removal and disposal of the burnt materials, followed by the refilling of the affected area with resin-bound rubber mulch at an estimated cost of €1,200. This is an unnecessary burden on public resources that could have been better spent enhancing local amenities.

Louth County Council Chief Executive, David Conway, said: “It is extremely disappointing to see Moneymore playground the subject of vandalism. We condemn the damage caused, and the disruption to families and children who have been enjoying the facilities at the park, particularly during the current spell of fine weather.”

Louth County Council urges anyone with information about this incident to come forward and report it to An Garda Síochána. We also ask the community to remain vigilant and help protect shared public spaces from such senseless acts of vandalism.