Mayo residents hopeful on landslide prevention

Mayo residents affected by a landslide almost three years ago say they are hopeful preventative measures will stop such damage again.

A new report from the Geological Survey of Ireland says the risk of landslides here is underestimated.

It said increased infrastructure and urbanisation, as well as climate change, could be factors.

Gerard McDonnell is chairman of the Pollathomas Landslide Committee in north Mayo and said: “One of the conclusions was following a period of drought and then heavy rain landslides are then more at risk of occurring.

“That's one of the main things that happened with us. There was a lot of dry weather in the summer of 2003 and then heavy periods of rain, particularly on that night.”