A tough balancing act for mothers on campaign trail

IT was at the kitchen tables of family homes in Monkstown, Cobh and Ringaskiddy that the 10-year campaign to stop two incinerators being built in Cork Harbour was spearheaded.

While the Cork Harbour for a Safe Environment (CHASE) campaign obviously crosses gender lines, it was four women — all mothers — who were at the frontline: timetabling meetings, brainstorming to come up with fundraising ideas, devising legal strategy and pulling endless all- nighters as they swotted up for oral hearings and court actions. Most of the women had not been community activists before.

Chairwoman Mary O’Leary had only moved to East Cork from West Clare a year before Indaver submitted their original application for a 100,000 tonne hazardous waste incinerator.