A solution has been finally reached between Galway County Council and local residents regarding the future of drystone walls in the greater Kinvara area of south Galway. Due to essential road upgrade works of the N67 between Kinvara and Ballindereen, dry stone walls were going to be demolished. The plan was to replace these walls with timber posts, tensioned mesh fence and hedgerows.
However, local residents and landowners were totally opposed to the idea. The walls had been on the route for hundreds of years. A group was formed called the Destruction of the Gateway to the Burren to protest against wall destruction plans and actively lobby for the replacement of dry stone walls with dry stone walls.
Negotiations
This group was formed last February and has been in negotiations since. At the time, the director of communications with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) told the Irish Farmers Journal that the walls could not be replaced due to safety and cost.
Caroline Corless, a committee member of the group, said the issue has finally been resolved. “Instead of erecting timber posts, mesh fence and hedges on farm boundaries the TII has agreed that walls can be erected instead,” she explained.
Caroline Corless, a member of the Destruction to the Gateway to the Burren group.
Corless said that during the negotiations, compromises had to be made. “The existing traditional drystone walls will not be reinstated but they will be replaced with larger stones from the locality and built using machinery,” she said.
“We know it’s not entirely what we set out to achieve but at least the stone will be sourced locally and will be fully livestock proof,” she added.
According to Corless the farmers will be allowed to keep the stone from the existing walls when they are taken down, for use in other places.
The Destruction to the Gateway group was supported by Anne Rabbitte TD and four local councillors, Michael Fahy, Joe Byrne, Gerry Finnerty and Martina Kinane, in negotiations.
Read more
Watch: how to build a dry stone wall
Thieves steal stones from wall
A solution has been finally reached between Galway County Council and local residents regarding the future of drystone walls in the greater Kinvara area of south Galway. Due to essential road upgrade works of the N67 between Kinvara and Ballindereen, dry stone walls were going to be demolished. The plan was to replace these walls with timber posts, tensioned mesh fence and hedgerows.
However, local residents and landowners were totally opposed to the idea. The walls had been on the route for hundreds of years. A group was formed called the Destruction of the Gateway to the Burren to protest against wall destruction plans and actively lobby for the replacement of dry stone walls with dry stone walls.
Negotiations
This group was formed last February and has been in negotiations since. At the time, the director of communications with Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) told the Irish Farmers Journal that the walls could not be replaced due to safety and cost.
Caroline Corless, a committee member of the group, said the issue has finally been resolved. “Instead of erecting timber posts, mesh fence and hedges on farm boundaries the TII has agreed that walls can be erected instead,” she explained.
Caroline Corless, a member of the Destruction to the Gateway to the Burren group.
Corless said that during the negotiations, compromises had to be made. “The existing traditional drystone walls will not be reinstated but they will be replaced with larger stones from the locality and built using machinery,” she said.
“We know it’s not entirely what we set out to achieve but at least the stone will be sourced locally and will be fully livestock proof,” she added.
According to Corless the farmers will be allowed to keep the stone from the existing walls when they are taken down, for use in other places.
The Destruction to the Gateway group was supported by Anne Rabbitte TD and four local councillors, Michael Fahy, Joe Byrne, Gerry Finnerty and Martina Kinane, in negotiations.
Read more
Watch: how to build a dry stone wall
Thieves steal stones from wall
This is a subscriber-only article
SHARING OPTIONS: