Dismay at Cavan County Council Quarry Decision

cavan | environment | news report Thursday September 14, 2006 23:13 by Michael Lynch - Red Branch Heritage redbranch at oceanfree dot net

Red Branch Heritage reacts to decision

Anger in long running Cavan Battle.

A Section of the Black Pig's Dyke on Ardkill Mountain

After a three-year long struggle by a number of heritage and environmental groups to oppose the extension of the quarry at Ardkill More mountain, Carrickaboy, County Cavan in order to protect the mountain from further visual damage and to stop further damage to the Black Pig’s Dyke monument, a decision yesterday by Cavan County Council to grant permission with thirty six conditions has met with an angry reaction by the Red Branch Heritage group which has being at the forefront in the campaign to stop the further expansion of the quarry.

In a statement released this evening Thursday 14th September 14, 2006, Susan Hayes, Secretary of Red Branch Heritage stated:
It is with deep sadness and dismay that we have learned of the decision by Cavan Planning Authority to grant planning permission to John Nulty Limited to further extend their quarry at Ardkill More.
Over the past number of years our group have tried to the best of our ability to protect the Black Pig’s Dyke monument from further destruction, which the above company had already carried out to the monument in the past. We submitted two submissions on this case clearly stating the situation as we saw it. This is a registered monument and should under Irish law be protected from such destruction and those responsible for such destruction made to answer in law.
Yes we are disappointed and angry at this decision but not surprised as this has being well signposted for some time. Cavan County Council pay lip service on their commitment to our counties heritage but this decision like many before makes a lie of that commitment.
Cavan may have the reputation as having the most liberal planning regime in Ireland but while this may benefit big business and those who want to make a quick buck by building throughout the countryside, Cavan will reap the rewards of such short sightedness in the future when we have destroyed our heritage and polluted the countryside with end to end housing.
Our group will be carefully considering our future course of action on the Nulty case over the weekend; in the meantime we offer our sincere thanks to those people who supported the campaign to save the Dyke in so many ways over the past years.
Thank You.

Susan Hayes,
Secretary,
Red Branch Heritage

A very modern cairn on Ardkill Mountain known as Nulty's Cairn