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
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Comments (6 of 6)
Jump To Comment: 1 2 3 4 5 6American tourist asks a Cavan County Councilor where is the missing part of the Black Pig's Dyke on Ardkill Mountain?
Cavan Councilor replies, "Well Sir its now underground if ye understand me.
American "Underground?"
Cavan Co Councilor "Ah"
American "Oh you mean an underground museum?"
Cavan Co. Councilor " Well not really, you know that roundabout on the Dublin road out of Cavan".
American "Sure"
Cavan Co. Councilor "Well ye see most of it is buried under there"
American "I guess thats one way of making use of your heritage"
I know all about the frustration you are feeling Susan and beleive me the situation in Co, Mayo isn't much better when it comes to protecting our heritage and the environemnt. Certain Co. Co. have paticualry bad records on these issues and general planning, particualry in the Countryside, Roscommon and Kerry Co. Co. have similary artrocious records.
You should check out www.pleanala.ie. Nulty's quarry have another file with Board Pleanala. REF 02 219928, it refers to the planning permission in 1977, Cavan Co Co Ref 64/7325, check out www.cavancoco.ie.
Apparently, they have to apply for continued operation of the existing quarry under the quarry registration scheme
Looking for contact detials for Red Branch Heritage? Are you/ye still active?
The Ardkill Song
(To the air of Katie Daly)
When Nulty Quarries dug up Ardkill Mountain in the pioneering year of eighty two, before long they’d left a mighty crater where the Black Pig’s Race it once went through.
Chorus
Come down from the mountain Seanie Nulty, come down from the mountain Nulty do. Bring all your diggers and bulldozers, rockbreckers and explosives too ou ou.
The Nulty Boys they surveyed Ardkill Quarry, in the pioneering year of Zero Two, “Be God Boys we’ll have to make her bigger, so Jonte we’ll have your mountain too ou ou.”
Chorus
Before long the Hi Mac she was moving, heading up towards the mountain top, when there came a phone call from An Taisce, saying “Now Nulty its time you stopped.
Chorus
The Black Pigs Race, the Cats Cradles and the Mass Rock, the Holy Well and Finn McCools Hand, oh the stand on the summit in a clear day and survey the beauty of this land.
Chorus
We used to stand and admire that old mountain, towering over all the countryside. When they blew up Ardkill Mountain, they took away some of our pride.
Chorus
Chorus
We have been fighting a quarry owner for 9 years or should i say the county counci which let this owner crush a registered monument as well as other things, would like to speak with you......our fight is growing