Call for support for farmers after land destroyed by gorse fires
Senator Gareth Scahill from the Roscommon-Galway constituency raised the matter following a weekend of wild fires around the Gortaganny area of west Roscommon.
Fire crews from Roscommon, with support from fire crews in neighbouring Mayo and an air support helicopter, tackled the blaze for 36 hours in the townlands of Gortaganny, Granlahan, and surrounding areas.
It is believed thousands of hectares of forestry and bog have been destroyed as a result.
Roscommon County Council posted a message warning the public to be careful as the fire spread.
'We urge members of the public to exercise extreme caution following an extensive fire outbreak in the west Roscommon area at the weekend,' the council stated.
Image: Roscommon County Council X
'Residents in the area please close windows and doors to avoid smoke. Avoid affected areas to allow emergency services continue their work.'
Speaking in the Seanad, Senator Scahill said: 'I'd like to compliment the local fire service for their response, the support of the fire services from neighbouring counties, the air support for the helicopters providing water and for getting the actual fire under control over 36 hours.
'There are a number of landowners down there now who have lost significantly in relation to forestry and in relation to pension opportunities that they had; some farmers up to 100,000 [euro] in damages.
'On Friday last, the Cahir Gortaganny area was one of the new walks accepted onto the national Walks Scheme that was part of a national announcement and over the weekend that special area of conservation [SPC] was significantly damaged during the spread of these wild gorse fires,' he added.
The senator stressed that he would like the heritage minister, Christopher O'Sullivan to adress the Seanad about supporting the landowners in the special areas of conservation.
He outlined that community groups in the area have worked voluntarily for years to develop and maintain the SPCs and to have all that work destroyed over last weekend has been devastating.
Responding in the Seanad on behalf of the government, Minister of State at the Department of the Taoiseach, Seán Kyne said: 'I would like to commend all the fire fighters and first responders in relation to those fires and show solidarity and sympathy to those who have lost property and have had damages enacted to their property.
'I'll certainly request a debate with the minister on that and obviously it's disappointing to see damage as well to SACs and areas of conservation.'
Other gorse fires
Meanwhile, emergency teams have also been tackling gorse fires in Co. Wexford over the past few days.
Fire damage at Tara Hill, Gorey. Image source: Neighbouring farmer, Padraig Doyle, chair Wexford ICMSA
There has been significant damage to forestry near Gorey in about three or four separate areas, according to a spokesperson for the county council.
Fire crews stood down from the fire around Tara Hill about about 9:00a.m yesterday (Tuesday, May 20) with road crews also standing down.
Coillte staff remained at the scene checking hotspots and managing small rekindling with beaters. A very large water tanker and a bulldozer also remained on site yesterday.
The fire service in Gorey and Bunclody resumed normal operations again yesterday once the gorse fire was under control.
Tara Hill, Gorey. Image source: Padraig Doyle
The council has said that the attendance of Coillte and the Air Corps helicopter 'greatly helped with the incident, reaching isolated difficult to access and dangerously steep terrain'.
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