The Irish Farmers Journal has learned that the river has been contaminated for the last number of years, much to the detriment of local farmers whose land the river runs through.

Animal fatalities

One such farmer is local man Ambrose Mc Donogh, who has lost three animals due to the contaminated water.

“Personally, I have no other water source in two of my fields other than the river. I have lost two calves and a two-year-old heifer through scour and bacterial infection who drank from the river in the last few years and I can’t do anything about it,” he said.

“When we tested the water in the river, the lab in University Hospital Galway said it was contaminated. A vet even told us to be cautious around the water as it could be harmful to humans,” he continued.

Meeting in 2013

A meeting that took place in Loughrea between the county council and the IFA back in 2013 outlined this issue. While work was successfully done to improve the pollution status in the river at the time, Ambrose believes the standards have dropped yet again.

“I have organised many protests with the IFA on this issue, but it has fallen on deaf ears. All I can hope now is that another animal doesn’t die in the meantime,” Ambrose explained.

There is no fish at all in the river and the smell coming from it is terrible

John Kelly, another local farmer in the area whose land is on the river, has called for a proper plan to be put in place to rectify the problem.

“The council say that they don’t know where it is coming from, but would like them to investigate it and clean it up if at all possible.” Kelly told the Irish Farmer Journal.

“There is no fish at all in the river and the smell coming from it is terrible,” he added.