Chief island landowner to ignore OPW sale deadline

THE principle landowner on the Great Blasket Island says he will not accept today’s deadline for agreement on the sale of the island to the Office of Public Works.

The State agency is still hoping to strike a deal with the majority of land owners on the Great Blasket to aid plans to develop the island as a national park.

Already this month, the OPW extended the deadline by 14 days to clear up some confusion surrounding the deal but, save for a couple of days grace, today is the last opportunity for landowners to decide on its €1.7 million offer to buy the island.

Dingle-based solicitor Peter Callery, who owns most of the island and the land where a pier would have to be developed, says he will not be doing business with the OPW based on what it has put on the table.

He said: “We want to be reasonable but talk of deadlines is not going to work.

“If hey want to come back to us and work out a deal, then that is they way it will have to go.”

OPW spokesman George Moir says it is still holding out in the hope that it can work out an agreement with the majority of landowners.

He said: “We have had little or no contact but we would expect by the close of play today to have a yea or nay.

“We would look at trying to implement the plan (with the consent of a portion of the landowners) but if people do not want to sell the land, then I don’t know how progress can be made.”