Unrepaired six-year-old West Cork sinkhole has 'taken the value out of people’s homes'

Failure of OPW to repair sinkhole on rural road 'disrespectful', says councillor

The sinkhole was raised in a motion proposed at a recent meeting of Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District Picture: Balooz.com

The failure of the Office of Public Works (OPW) to even reply to queries from the local authority regarding a sinkhole that emerged on a rural road in West Cork six years ago “tells its own story”, according to a local councillor.

The issue of the sinkhole on the Beara Peninsula was raised in a motion proposed at a recent meeting of Cork County Council’s West Cork Municipal District by Fianna Fáil councillor George Gill. 

Mr Gill’s motion asked: “That this council would provide an update on what works are planned to fill the hole in the road at Ballydonegan Upper, Allihies, caused by the collapse of the mine.”

Mr Gill said funding had recently been allocated for works on another road in the area, but there had been no progress on addressing the sinkhole. 

He said: “This has been going on a number of years and I’d be looking for an update on what is planned for the area, with a timeline to when it will be rectified.” 

Independent Ireland councillor Danny Collins said the issue had been raised a number of times. 

He said: “I think it’s out of the hands of Cork County Council at the moment. Residents and farmers have to go miles and miles out of their way. This is not good enough — if this was above anywhere in Dublin or Kildare or Galway the road would be sorted within months. 

"This is going on for how long? I would say at least six years. Something has to be done.” 

His party colleague Daniel Sexton said the issue had been raised in the Dáil, but nothing had been done. 

“We need to get on to the OPW and write to [OPW minister Kevin] Boxer Moran and get a bit of action on this. Whatever can be done, get it done. It’s not the council’s fault, it’s the OPW and we’ve been waiting a long time for it. We need to put as much pressure on as possible as a council, if it was anywhere else it would be filled in long ago.” 

Sinkhole has 'taken the value out of people’s homes'

Beara-based independent councillor Finbarr Harrington said the sinkhole was formed by an old mineshaft that collapsed in 2019, which has created a cul-de-sac. 

He said the mineshafts are the responsibility of the OPW to fill it or make it safe. He said temporary palisade fencing erected at the site had been there so long it was now completely rusted.

Mr Harrington added: “Nobody really knows the depth of it and unfortunately the landscape it’s in there was a lot of speculating for copper back in the late 60s and there was always a fear that another one would appear. 

"It has inconvenienced people but it has also taken the value out of people’s homes. We need to put pressure on the OPW that somebody might find the funds somewhere that we can fill this hole and address it because I don’t think going around it is an option.” 

Council executive engineer Kevin Lynch said a letter was sent to the minister for transport on July 21, 2025, but no response had been received to date and the matter would be followed up with the minister’s office.

Finbarr Harrington said: “I think that’s really disrespectful. The mere fact that they haven’t even responded, I think that’s terrible. The fact that they haven’t responded tells its own story.” 

This article is funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme