Sir, There will soon be little left that is sacred, including trust, on this little island if the Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Mr Higgins, has his way in seeking planning permission for a "scaled down" visitor centre, comprising "waiting area toilets, park ranger officer, a storeroom, car/coach parking, signage, the construction of a reservoir and sewage treatment plant" at environmentally fragile Mullaghmore in the Burren (October 28th).
In February 1992, I travelled to Clare with friends to support the Burren Action Group's Relocation Rally in Lisdoonvarna. At this rally, filmed by a supporter, Mr Higgins made a seemingly heartfelt speech calling for a re location of the OPW's proposed centre at Mullaghmore. His words "relocation is a very, very modest demand and it is a demand that must succeed" received tumultuous applause from thousands of people in Lisdoonvarna, including politicians, Irish and international environmentalists who attended the rally.
What happened to Mr Higgins's perceived concern for Mullaghmore? It is certainly a long, long way from Clare via Lisdoonvarna to the High Court, here Mr Higgins will seek permission to build what is euphemistically called an "entry point" at Mullaghmore, now referred to as Gortnalecka in his draft plan. What's in a name, your readers may ask? Gortnalecka (Mullaghmore), Sellafield (Windscale).
Mullaghmore is renowned worldwide as the jewel in the Burren's crown. Sacrificing our environmental heritage on the altar of mercenary and political expediency is not only a wanton act of desecration; it displays the frightening arrogance of those who ignore the environmental wisdom of the World Wildlife Fund, the Irish Wildbird Conservancy, Plantlife, the Irish Wildlife Federation, An Taisce, the Conservation Council, the World Conservation Union and many more conservation groups and individuals. All these groups continue to support the Burren Action Group in its heroic efforts to save the paradise garden of Mullaghmore from destruction. - Yours, etc.,
Clonard Road,
Dundrum,
Dublin 16.