Approved mast disrupts Kingscourt TV reception

It has been claimed that there exists a “major problem” in the Kingscourt area where a controversially erected mast is affecting the television signal being transmitted to several nearby homes.

The council had previously heard concern over three specific cases with regard to the erection of telecommunication structures, masts and monopoles in the towns of Kingscourt, Killeshandra and Ballyjamesduff.

In all three cases the applications were refused planning permission by Cavan County Council.

The decisions were later appealed to An Bord Pleanála, where despite objections by inspectors who upheld the concerns of the council, the board overturned the rulings.

“There were quite a number signed off on the same day,” stated Fianna Fáil’s Clifford Kelly at the council’s December monthly meeting, who went on to say that it “took a lot of work” to find out which company owned the mast.

He said households in the immediate area had been left without reception for RTE1 and RTE2, and now other stations were also being “affected”.

Cllr Kelly said that some families had paid €60 to get a “box fitted” but even these had begun to “stop working”.

Cllr Kelly demanded that representatives from Vodafone meet with the members elected to the Cootehill-Bailieborough Municipal District area to “explain” the situation.

The motion was seconded by Fine Gael’s Carmel Brady.