County plan has no place for the Hill of Truth
Areas of rural, scenic and historical importance don't seem to have the influence one would have imagined.
Perhaps a man-made metal monstrosity supporting the Government's telecoms strategy might have a better chance of being upheld as an area of special note than poor old Knockfierna Hill in Ballingarry.
For Cnoc Firinne the Hill of Truth is shamefully absent from the Limerick development plan under categories such as 'scenic,' 'walking facilities,' and 'amenities,' among others, there is no mention of the highest hill in the county.
Despite the stunning views of west Limerick and the Shannon basin, the profusion of wild flowers and birdlife in a largely unspoilt landscape, Knockfierna remains strangely absent.
Even with an array of relics of ancient times, including a burial tomb, hillfort and cairn, and with numerous references to the Famine era community that had flourished and then perished on the hillside, the area has no official heritage status.
Not even the restored stone famine cottages an unique monument to the hundreds who died above Ballingarry are deemed worthy of specific mention in our county plan.
The result of this absence of protective status has been the insidious construction of a 27 metre-high mobile phone mast with over 43 disks by the ESB, supporting Vodafone, Digifone and Meteor networks.
That Knockfierna Hill should suffer such an ugly structure is an appalling reflection of what is held dear in this county. It is curious that our public representatives failed to ensure specific designation for Knockfierna in the county development plan.
This may have afforded some protection from the telecommunications magnates who persist in flouting planning protocol and who are responsible for the pollution of one of the finest areas of Co Limerick.
Rosemarie Bennis
Ballygrennan,
Ballingarry,
Co Limerick.
