‘Too many blow-ins’ killing off Ring Gaeltacht, says councillor

A Waterford county councillor has publicly called for “special planning treatment” for the Ring Gaeltacht after claiming the future of the region was under threat from “too many blow-ins”.

Séamus O’Donnell voiced his concerns, first at a Dungarvan-Lismore Municipal District meeting, before repeating them before a full county council meeting.

The Independent councillor was irked by a case in which a local man had planning permission for a house overturned by An Bord Pleanála. Mr O’Donnell described the man as a secondary teacher, native to the area, and due to be married shortly. Contrary to the recommendation of its own inspector, An Bord Pleanála had upheld an objection lodged by “a complete blow-in”, who was non-Irish and had settled locally, he said.