Presence of dolphins stops further blasting at quarry

THE intensification of use of a contentious quarry would fail to protect the tourism and amenity resources of west Clare, An Bord Pleanála said.

In its decision to refuse planning permission to Joseph, Daniel and Martin O’Gorman to carry out 15 blasts each year and the use of mobile crushing and screening plant within an existing quarry at Aylevarroo, Ballynote West, Kilrush, the board cited the presence of bottlenose dolphins in the Shannon estuary.

Last year, Clare County Council refused planning permission after widespread opposition from local residents.