Mar

16

Though born in Dublin, the Irish poet William Butler Yeats is most often associated with the West of Ireland, and specifically Sligo. Many of his poems refer to local landscapes and places – Lissadell, Benbulben, and Innisfree (Lough Gill) are immediately recognisable to even those briefly passing.

This early poem “Red Hanrahan’s Song about Ireland” is an early one from a collection entitled “In the Seven Woods” published in 1903 :

“The old brown thorn-trees break in two high over Cummen strand,
Under a bitter black wind that blows from the left hand;
Our courage breaks like an old tree in a black wind and dies,
But we have hidden in our hearts the flame out of the eyes
Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.

The wind has bundled up the clouds high above Knocknarea,
And thrown the thunder on the stones for all that Maeve can say.
Angers that are like noisy clouds have set our hearts abeat;
But we have all bent low and low and kissed the quiet feet

Of Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.
The yellow pool has overflowed high up on Clooth-na-Bare,
For the wet winds are blowing out of the clinging air;
Like heavy flooded waters our bodies and our blood;
But purer than a tall candle before the Holy Rood
Is Cathleen, the daughter of Houlihan.”

Cathleen Ni Houlihan of course is the heroine that has been repeatedly used through Irish literature to represent poor old Ireland. In this poem, a few obvious places on the peninsula are referenced – but where is “Clooth-na-Bare”?

Mar

15

On Friday 9th March, the Dorrin’s & Cummeen Conservation Group (DCCG) were invited to meet with representatives of Sligo Airport and their consultants. Councillor Higgins, Chairman of the Board of Sligo Airport, billed this meeting as the start of a consultation process between Airport personnel and representatives of the local community.

The meeting started with the expert consultants to the Airport giving presentations on why the extension to the East Side was the only feasible option. It became clear that despite this meeting being a consultation process, the Airport were not in favour of changing their plans despite the opposition voiced in two recent public meetings in Strandhill and over 70 objections to Sligo County Council’s Planning Section. The airport also suggested that it would have to close if it did not extend the runway to the East.

A spokesperson for the Dorrin’s & Cummeen Conservation Group addressed the meeting and asked the Airport Company to withdraw the current application for planning permission. He said this would instill confidence in the consultation process between the Airport and the Strandhill community.

He also stated that the application for planning permission submitted by the Airport was comprehensively flawed. The vast majority of Strandhill residents are deeply concerned about building a runway extension on Dorrin’s Strand with the consequent damage to the ecology, wildlife, heritage, and access to recreational activities. Local residents also have grave concerns for the access road to Coney Island and the massive damage to the local fish farming industries by the proposal to divert the channel from its current course.

In response to the request to withdraw the planning application, Councillor Albert Higgins, Chairman of the Airport Company, stated that such a decision would need to be considered by the airport company and that he would bring this DCCG request to the board.

The DCCG concerns with the inadequacy of the Environmental Impact Statement were supported by the Sligo Co. Co. Planning Department who had written a lengthy letter to the Airport seeking further information on a wide range of issues concerning the application.

Mar

12

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This materialised after a heavy rain shower and brilliant sunshine. Looking North East into Sligo Bay, the sandy edge of Coney Island just visible on the bottom left; Benbulben just out of picture.

Mar

5

The following extract is from the local Strandhill Development Plan, and describes the geography of the pensinsula.

“Strandhill is located 5 miles (8 km) from Sligo town on the western extremity of the Coolera Peninsula. The village extends along the north-western foothills of Knocknarea mountain and is surrounded on three sides by the coast: Cummeen Strand to the north, Sligo Bay to the west and Ballysadare Bay to the south.

On the eastern side of Strandhill, the ground rises dramatically towards the mountain and its northern shoulder extension, which provide a visual barrier between the settlement and the rest of the peninsula.

The general landscape is undulating and influenced by small-scale agricultural activity, which has resulted in a pattern of small fields with mature tree belts and hedgerows, giving way to machair and sand dunes at the coast.”

You can get a nice appreciation for some of this landscape by the birds eye view offered by Google Maps and Google Earth. In particular when when the latter is installed and used in conjunction with this plugin – it enables you to view digital photographs of the area mapped onto the satellite imagery.

It is disappointing however that the satellite imagery at the moment for the whole peninsula is split in terms of quality. The eastern side of a North North-West divide (on a line roughly running from Coney Island just to the east of Knocknarea) is the side which is high quality. To the west of this line is not so good. Difficult to explain in words – have a look here at Google Maps – and you will see what I mean…..

Feb

27

A crash on the Burma Road/Top Road roundabout junction at the beginning of February, may have been a telling factor in the relalignment of lines and marking that happened last week. Rumble strips are now in place – in my mind though, the Yield/Roundabout  signs (particuarly coming into the village from town) – are just not visible enough.

Given the way that people seem to negotiate the junction, it’s a little surprising that there have not been more incidents. To that end, it’s useful to consider the advice given on the Road Safety Authority website on negotiating roundabouts – the download is here.

From experience negotiating it on a day to day basis – the following points are the ones that people should take heed of

 Pay attention people……

Feb

12

This is a nice little two minute clip taken in November 2006 from the highest sand dune on the beach in Strandhill. Nice panorama initially looking back to Knocknarea and the village, then over toward Benbulben (1:05), over to Dromore West (1:35), and back in to Ballisodare Bay, Culleenamore (1:52).

Feb

9

Over 100 people attended a public meeting in Strandhill last night to show their concern over the proposed new 270 metre eastward extension of the runway into Dorrins Strand.

Chaired by Alfie Parkes, representatives from the Airport Board as well as those directly affected by the developments made statements on their positions.

A lively debate ensued from the floor. All of those who spoke were unanimous in their hopes that the runway can be extended, but threw serious doubt on the decision to extend east. The quality of the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) was questioned by a number of well qualified individuals, as was the apparent decision by the board to choose the less expensive option. For the record, the option to develop west into the Atlantic is apparently technically possible – but at least double the price (€10.2m).

A lively and passionate evening – this one has a long way to go.


Feb

6

At a recent AGM of the Strandhill Development Association, there was disquiet regarding the proposed extension of the runway into Dorrins Strand. According to An Irish Town Planner’s Blog recounting from an Irish Independent piece

“The proposed €5m extension to the runway of Sligo airport at Strandhill will see the construction of a 270m platform onto the mudflats at Dorrins Bay, on its eastern end.

But locals claim that the development will destroy a safe recreational and bathing area as well as wiping out a nature reserve and bird sanctuary and ruining the livelihoods of several shellfish farmers.”

For those interested, there is a meeting planned for this week (thursday, 8th February) – presumably local press for more details. Details of the application are available on the Sligo County Council Website, planning number is 0722.

Closing date for submissions is 14th February.

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