Lambay Island

hidinginthebush

cbreeze wrote: »

we are used to the council cleaning the public beaches on our coast - so if we had no council our beaches would look as bad as Ireland's eye - there's a lot of plastic refuse washed up on the shores of Lambay also

No need to tell me that, I've seen how utterly disgusting Portmarnock beach is after many a sunny day.

On topic would the council then deploy workers to clean up Lambay island each day to clean up after the animals who decide that there is no better place for their filth than discarded on the beach / hills / wherever (just don't bring it back with you!)? ...probably not given that this isn't the case on Ireland's Eye.

Carawaystick

Article about it in the IT today
http://www.irishtimes.com/opinion/private-isle-an-irishman-s-diary-about-lambay-island-1.2583426

You can get out on a tour from later in the Spring apparently.

mahoganygas

Any idea how much a tour costs? I can't see it on the website.

LeoB

Interested Observer wrote: »

I don't think this is overly unreasonable but I still don't really see the distinction between it and any other privately held bit of land in the country. I'm sure there are loads of areas in the country that could be good for tourism that the public have no access to.

It is a bit of a shame but they own the island, end of story imo.

The Hill Billy wrote: »

For one instant - let's consider that the state or FCC slapped a compulsory purchase order on Lambay for, say, €10m (at a rough estimate). Surely the money would be better spent on maintaining/improving existing basic services? Eg, sports grounds, libraries, community services.

What would they do with it? Turn it into a theme park? Rehouse the homeless out there?

If the state could just repossess all islands, it wouldn't be long before they'd dig a channel through Sutton, declare Howth to be an island & repossess that too.

Crazy? Maybe. But no crazier than thinking private land should be taken from its owners just "because it is an island."

I'm not suggesting we go in and take his land and Wasn't asking that we would spend €10 million. Money for Nurses, housing etc come from different budgets but if we were to use that as an excuse we would have no facilities but there is huge potential out there for Mr Baring to develop and make money from wildlife and he does want to upgrade the castle so he can take in guests I believe. My main point would be that it could be beneficial for the state to "assist" in providing this. Numbers could be limited and I think the type of people who want to go out and see the wildlife and rare plants are not the type who will be throwing litter around.

The Hill Billy

If Mr Baring wants assistance I am sure he would ask for it. Or are you suggesting that the State should 'give him assistance' to develop his family's island as a national amenity whether he likes it or not?

LeoB

The Hill Billy wrote: »

If Mr Baring wants assistance I am sure he would ask for it. Or are you suggesting that the State should 'give him assistance' to develop his family's island as a national amenity whether he likes it or not?

My point is he is trying to develop it. I dont see why the state couldnt go and talk to him and offer assistance and talk about its potential. (Maybe they have already and he doesnt want any) It will be a sort of exclusive destination and I think there is room for it to be used as a major educational destination and a place for people to go and see island wildlife etc. It could be a leading place in Fingal for eco and agri tourism

dslamjack

As The Hill Billy points out ,it is privately owned ,what they decide to do is their own business,the government set a precedent in these matters with was it Lisadell House,when they refused to step in and purchase it for the public through the Board of Work's.
Hopefully access will be more readily available in the future,it all ready is ,through escorted tour's as was pointed out in another post.
I walk daily in Ardgillian,it really is a treasure,(I'm told Kenure Park was once as beautiful),but I think the development of the Balleally landfill will be an absolutely massive contribution to recreation in the area,especially if the viaduct footpath/bikeway ever get's done.
The great thing about the Balleally Project is that all the funding to transform and build the amenity is in the bank,after being set aside over the years for exactly this purpose.

Originally posted by Carawaystick - The engineer said they have the dump covered with soil, a barrier layer, and more soil on top, and the last bit is to finish off the yard, where the recycling centre was. It should be done in 18 months.
There's a track around the outside, it's 5km and there will be another 3km or roads/track on the hill of the dump itself. It's 40 metres high at the top of the hill and The Parks dept man said there's a pot of money in a fund to cover the pollution control and to create something in the park.

I'm probably a bit off topic, but the Balleally Project ,could eventually be the jewel in the crown of NCD.

http://www.independent.ie/regionals/fingalindependent/news/balleallys-future-in-publics-hands-34474535.html

http://www.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/090151b280483ea8.pdf