Farmers protest over landslide compensation
Farmers in North Mayo whose property was damaged by a freak landslide a year ago are demanding tens of thousands of euro of unpaid compensation.
Events are planned in the Pollathomas area on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the natural disaster, which forced 40 families to flee from their homes and caused millions of euro worth of damage to the scenic community.
Large sections of bogland and debris tumbled down Dooncarton mountain in September 2003 after over 80mm of rain fell in less than two hours and overwhelmed drainage systems.
The Department of Agriculture pledged up to €100,000 to local farmers to re-claim land, build farm buildings and replace dead livestock.
Dooncarton Landslide Committee, which is made up of affected farmers, say they’ve been forced to borrow money to carry out repair works and some have been unable to tend to their farms since the disaster.
Committee chairman Gerard McDonnell said: “It’s disgraceful that the compensation is still tied up in red tape, one year on.”
However a spokesperson for the Department of Agriculture said it only received clearance for grant aid in July and is processing 72 applications from farmers for the grant aid.
Mr McDonnell believes that more funding may be needed to cover the total cost of damage caused by the freak incident on September 19 last year.
Up to 700 locals will unite again on Sunday for an open air Mass in Pollathomas Graveyard where up to 89 headstones were damaged by the landslide, including some washed out to the sea.
The gravestones will be re-consecrated by local curate Fr Liam Reilly and the village will also be blessed. A reception will be held afterwards in McGuire’s Pub where speeches and presentations will be made.
Mr McDonnell said that local TDs like Beverly Flynn and Dr Jerry Cowley had been very helpful since the landslide and that Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs minister Eamon O Cuiv was also instrumental in securing funding.
Minister O Cuiv will attend events in Pollathomas on Sunday to represent the Taoiseach. Independent MEP Marian Harkin and local political representatives are also expected.
About €2.4m has already been spent by Mayo Co Council and the Department of Environment in the last year in carrying out essential infrastructure work like repairing drains, roads, bridges and stone walls.
The Office of Public Works also provided €300,000 of humanitarian aid which was distributed through the Irish Red Cross Society for the hardest-hit families.
Several kilometers of protective barriers are now being constructed on the slopes of Dooncarton mountain to prevent the re-occurrence of a similar landslide.
An elderly couple, one of two families that has still not returned to the area, is expected to move back into their home this weekend to coincide with the first anniversary of the disaster.
