Fake chimney part of new plans to improve mobile coverage in county Kilkenny

A community centre in a Kilkenny village is set to get a makeover which will give people in the north and west of the county a far better phone service.

A fake chimney will be built on top of Freshford’s community centre on the village’s beautiful square with the aim of improving the patchy mobile reception in the area.

The new antenna, hidden behind the fake chimney stack will benefit not just the people of Freshford, but should create a better mobile signal for people in Kilkenny City, Urlingford, Johnstown and those using the M8 motorway.

In its application to the local authority, national mobile provider Eir highlighted the need for the elevated antenna. It said the antenna’s current location, on a gable wall of the community centre, is being affected by a pitched roof on an adjacent building.

The council approved Cignal Infrastructure Limited’s plans to erect the fake chimney stack and place three antenna withing the construction.

Freshford’s Community Centre is located in an Agricultural Conservation Area.