Kinsale says No to Mussel Farm

 (JJ Hurley)

Protestors gathering both on and off the Dock Beach on Friday evening to object to the proposed mussel farm (Credit John Allen Images)

Rain did not deter Kinsale’s residents from turning out en masse at the Dock Beach on Friday evening to protest against the proposed mussel farm in the town’s harbour

Organised by a recently constituted committee, the large turnout on the local beauty spot was mirrored by a flotilla of boats in the harbour, as banners and posters registered their objections to the recently granted licence to   Woodstown Bay Shellfish Ltd

Paul McGovern, who is on the organising committee, was certainly taken aback by the number of people who came out and joined Friday’s protest.

‘Absolutely delighted, it’s fantastic, everyone in Kinsale is deeply committed to this. It’s fantastic to see the community getting together,’ he said.

‘The best way to describe this is that we are all saddened, that a company can get a licence for a mussel farm in the harbour, and it will have an effect on everyone who lives here.’

Paul’s reflection was echoed by many of those who turned out for Friday’s demonstration against the initiative, including well-known landscape photographer, Giles Norman.

‘There is no need for it to be here, there are plenty of other places to put it,’ Giles said.

For Ger Timmons the harbour is an important asset for those in the town and the mussel farm may well put an end to that.

‘It would be a shame to see this beech as an amenity being developed commercially, he said

‘It beggars’ belief, everything we do in Kinsale is for the benefit of the community, even getting equipment here for the proposed project seems not to have been thought through.

Joining the protestors was Deputy Michael Collins, who has promised to support the community in their objection to the proposal.

‘An appeal is going to cost a lot of money, but I think the people here are so determined that they are going to put in their appeals,’ he said.

‘Remember there were 609 observations on the original application, and they weren’t listened too, and that’s my point, are we going to see the same situation at the end of this.

‘They are going to destroy that beautiful sea out there, right in front of us and their voices are not going to be heard.

‘I think we are looking at a judicial route, but that’s not the way it should be, the people should be heard here.

‘The Department of Agriculture needs to look at the process, and it has to stop with them, and it can.’

Already according to one of the organisers, Marc Ó Riain, the petition to object to the proposal is fast approaching the figure similar to the town’s total population as the community looks certain to fight the proposed mussel farm.

 Clear message from Kinsale's town's people at Friday's protest to the granting of a mussel farm licence in the harbour (Credit John Allen Images)