Mayo councillor hits out at grab lorry sent to rummage through bonfires

A MAYO councillor has hit out after an eight-wheeler 'grab lorry' was dispatched by the council to rummage through bonfires in Achill.

Councillor Paul McNamara described the 'munching through' of material gathered for the annual June 23 St. John's Night celebrations - a tradition going back many years.

It was beyond him, he stated, why the council do this one day of the year when he sees what is being neglected that they should be doing.

The bonfire is a tradition still held in high esteem in the area, where people gather and celebrate. Why Mayo County Council takes it upon itself to come into the area and go around picking what they think will pollute the atmosphere was 'unbelievable', Councillor McNamara told a Westport-Belmullet Municipal District meeting this week.

Yet, over the next 12 weeks there will be wild camping in the area, all with fires outside tents, and where were Mayo County Council on those nights, he asked, if they were so concerned about the pollution of the air.

Five-hundred metres from one area targeted, the pontoon servicing Dugort and Blacksod still wasn't in the water. And the shower/toilet facilities at Keel won't be ready for this summer season, he added.

Yet, an eight-wheeler lorry can be sent down to start rummaging through bonfires in the parish, picking out what they think will pollute the air. And right over the point of Slievemore, where a fire was standing under, they have the air traffic going to America, and what pollution is coming out of that.

The councillor accepted that people do gather rubbish, but he felt the council is losing its marbles on what they're focusing on.

The council, he said, should focus on what it is meant to deliver in the area.

Councillor McNamara was told a report will be requested from the environment section for their next municipal meeting.

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