Gas pipe- line in Mayo

national | miscellaneous | news report Thursday July 25, 2002 20:55 by Claudia Dallek claudiadallek at care2 dot com

According to the several newspaper articles from the last couple of days Enerprise Energy Ireland pstponed its works on the pipe- line in northern Mayo to await the go- ahead for their on- shore gas terminal from An Bord Pleanala. Nevertheless, the workers continue to destroy an SAC beach.

Works go ahead for pipe- line

According to the Mayo News 24th July , the Irish Indepensdent 23rd July and the Irish Times from the same date the pipe- laying work on the Corrib gas project have been postponed. Nevertheless the digging of a trench through the beach in Broad Haven Bay and the work on an access ramp went on yesterday as well as today.

Enterprise Energy Ireland, who has been bought up by Shell Plc. recently, might rethink the whole project after An Bord Pleanala raised a whole series of concerns about the proposed onshore gas terminal at Bellanaboy Bridge.
According to the Mayo News Enterprise Energy Ireland feels “it is prudent to postpone the laying of the offshore pipe- line until the status of the proposed onshore terminal site is confirmed.”

It seems to be far from certain that the terminal will be build in Bellanaboy in the end, Enterprise Energy Ireland might as well pull out of the proposed site if they loose much more time. Regardless of the insecurity concerning the site the company continues their work in the Corrib area.

This means in fact that they will go on digging up an SAC beach, as they have done already within the last two weeks. With digging a trench across the beach, which is refilled by each tide, they have destroyed the structure of the ground to such an extend, that they have created areas of quick- sand along the trench.

As the ramp down to the beach they dug out of a cliff turned out to be too steep, they are now in the process of digging more and more earth up- and piling it up along the beach. If any ordinary person would leave a bag of rubbish lying around there they would be up in court for littering in an SAC, which should be under European protection. Enterprise Energy Ireland/ Shell Plc. actually got the go- ahead from Duchas, the Heritage Service responsible for the protection of the Special Areas of conservation in Ireland.

It is not clear, if or where the gas terminal will be build nor where the pipe- line will go on- shore. But it is clear that the beach Enterprise Energy Ireland is irreversibly destroyed.

On Wednesday 31st of July a group of nuns intend to go the beach for a cleansening ritual and prayer at 6pm. Afterwards some local musicians invite everyone interested to take part in their Lunasa dance at the same place.

For everyone interested in having a look around the place, talking with the locals about their opinion about the pipe- line and taking part in the dance, take the R313 from Bangor Erris almost to Belmullet. Turn right in Derrycorrib and follow the R314 to Barnatra. Turn left here and take the road along the coast for about 4 miles, till you reach the entrance to the construction site, guarded by security personnel. A bit further on you find a public path going down to the beach. All are welcome!