Cultures clash over Ring Gaeltacht ‘bad planning’

Locals argue their heritage is at stake over housing developments on the horizon, writes John Murphy.

“BEFORE my very eyes I am watching our Gaeltacht being destroyed by huge and ugly housing developments that have no relevance to the environmental beauty and cultural heritage of the area.”

The words of Eibhlis Ni Dhonncha, a schoolteacher at Meanscoil San Nioclas in the heart of the country’s smallest Gaeltacht in Ring, Co Waterford, where the community is up in arms over what they claim is the bad planning strategy of Waterford County Council.

Last night parishioners met to voice their concerns about the situation, and tomorrow many will march through Dungarvan to the council headquarters to highlight a situation which they claim will lead to the demise of the Gaeltacht.

In recent years there has been a spate of housing developments throughout the tiny Gaeltacht.

However, a decision to give the planning go-ahead for 12 two-storey houses on a 2.1 hectare site at Cnocán an Paoraigh towering high over Dungarvan Bay is regarded as “the straw that broke the camel’s back”.

Despite concerted objections, the development is under way.

“The three- and five-bedroomed detached houses are described as two-storey, but they also have a basement, so in effect they are three storey and are towering over the picturesque landscape,” Ms Ni Dhonncha said.

They cost €500,000 and that, according to her, rules out the possibility of any young local people acquiring them.

“They will be bought by people from outside the Gaeltacht with little or no Irish, and it is these kind of developments that are tearing the very soul out of our parish,” she said.

“I was born and reared in this Gaeltacht, my heart is here, and I now have a two-year-old daughter who is being raised through the Irish language. My fear is there will be no Gaeltacht for her when she grows up because of what is happening.”

Siobhain Mhic Craith fears they will lose for their children what she inherited.

“Our problem is with the planners at Waterford County Council who have put very bad strategies in place and are allowing this present planning mayhem to continue in our Gaeltacht,” she said.

“They are expecting us to self-regulate planning by objecting to applications submitted by our neighbours and our families. It is causing great disharmony in the parish, a divide and conquer situation.”

She said the water supply is inadequate and no one has water after 6pm most days.

“We have no showers, no washing machine use, and yet they continue to build more houses.”

Concerns about what is happening aren’t confined to the adult population.

Ailbhe Nic Dhonncha and Neasa Ni Mhurchadha are students at Meanscoil San Nioclas and they describe the development as “disgusting”.

“The Gaeltacht is changing for the worse,” Ms Ni Mhurchadha said.

“I can’t imagine what it will be like in 20 years if things continue as they are.”

“There is no future for the young people of the Gaeltacht,” Ms Ni Dhonncha added.

An invitation is being extended to the Minister for the Gaeltacht, Eamonn Ó Cuiv, to visit Ring.

“We want him to see first hand the decimation taking place here,” Ms Ni Dhonncha said.