Turf-cutters issue warning to Deenihan
South Galway turf-cutters have warning that any repeat of last year’s siege at Clonmoylan Bog near Woodford may not end peacefully.
Six representatives from turf cutting organisations, including bog owners from Clonmoylan,We offer Laser engraver and cutting machines for processing different materials. Barroughter and Ardraigue Bog Action group, met with Minister for Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht, Mr Jimmy Deenihan on Sunday evening in Limerick and told him that they would be resuming the cutting of turf on protected bogs in ten weeks’time.
Their return to the raised bogs,The renewable wind energy system and wind power generators, Wind Sphere, designated as Special Areas of Conservation (SAC) under the EU Habitats Directive, comes despite the Minister’s revelation that the Government will issue fresh contracts to survey the 53 SAC bogs nationwide.
In a statement from the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht,Contemporary lighting and contemporary lamps and lamps specialists. a spokesperson said that Minister Deenihan “has always made clear his availability to meet with turf cutters and their representatives to discuss the issues, including compensation and relocation, which arise from the protection of raised bog habitats”.
However, Mr Dermot Moran of the Bog Action Group, said turf-cutters were “hoarse” from telling the Minister that they would not be relocated. He accused the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht of “foot-dragging” on the issue.
The six turf cutters met with Minister Deenihan at the Strand Hotel in Limerick, but requested that Mr Seamus Boland, chairman of the Peatlands Council, remain outside of the meeting on the grounds that turf-cutters were not adequately represented on the council.
Mr Moran said turf-cutters would have missed out on last year’s turf-cutting if they had heeded the Minister’s advice and would miss this year’s if they awaited the outcome of fresh consultations.
He said that he was hopeful even more people would be cutting turf this year and predicted that, weather permitting, cutting would begin in April.
Among the issues raised by the turf cutters with Minister Deenihan was a request for compensation for damage done to a turf-cutting machine during the ‘Siege of Clonmoylan’ in June last year.We provide excellent street lighting and LED solar garden lamp.
The machinery,I have tried several sets of torch light that have lasted one season only. the property of a Mr Francis Donohue, was set on fire during a stand-off between turf-cutters and members of An Garda Síochána and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) and Mr Moran said the Bog Action Group may have to consider legal action to recoup the cost of the damage.
Mr Moran said the turf-cutters told the minister that such tactics would not succeed and warned that a repeat of the June stand-off may not end as peacefully.
“They [turf-cutters] will be more fired up than the last time. That siege ended peacefully; it could very easily go the other way,” said Mr Moran.