People using Clough Oughter as a ‘urinal’

Pollution remains an issue at Killeshandra’s Rann Point, which overlooks the historic Clough Oughter Castle, but by-laws are on the way to help tackle the problem.

A local farmer in the area has detailed how campers have polluted the area and made the castle a urination point, rather than a major tourist attraction.

Shane Dolan, who lives just a mile away from the area, recalled the last time he visited Clough Oughter when his brother returned home from America. Instead of taking in the beauty of the island, which is home to the stone castle, Shane said the “smell of urine” was the first thing he noticed.

“People are pulling up there on boats and using Clough Oughter castle as a urinal.

“It’s just terrible,” he said.

Shane is the owner of the land to the left of the Rann Point amenity, which he said is often littered with toilet paper, wipes and faeces.

“My biggest problem is they are in cutting timber and using my land as a toilet,” he fumed.

“I have animals down there too and it’s not a nice place to have to put animals. It’s shocking,” he said.

Shane described some of the people who use the amenity as “very intimidating” upon approach, adding that there is nearly “always drink on board”.

“Some of them are great and a lot of them have just no manners whatsoever,” he said.

The Killeshandra local has often asked people to turn down their music, explaining that others live near the amenity.

“On the water sound travels,” he said, detailing that noise pollution is a major issue.

He called for a stop to camping at the amenity in the absence of proper facilities.

“There’s no facilities there and there should be no camping going on full stop.

“I’m sharing the same opinion as several neighbours,” Shane said.

He claims to have spoken to Cavan County Council on “numerous occasions” and has sent photographs of the pollution taking place there.

Under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme, €30,000 was allocated to the area to upgrade the viewing point in August of last year.

Shane said the council did “a little bit of work” including the installation of temporary fencing, which was taken down by campers.

“It seems to be a case of just no rules up there,” he said.

Shane has often contacted An Garda Síochána who said they “can’t do anything”.

“There is no official signage there that they can enforce,” he said.

Speaking on the issue Director of Services Brendan Jennings said Cavan County Council have commenced the process of developing by-laws to cover the area.

“They’re just not done yet unfortunately, that is a legal process that takes time.

“We are trying to advance it as quick as we can,” he said.

Although he couldn’t give an exact time period for the introduction of the by-laws, Brendan hopes to see them in place “long before” the end of the year.

“It’s not for camping, it’s not for fires, it’s not for drinking,” he said.

“It’s a place for tourists and locals to come and use as a recreational space,” emphasised Mr Jennings.

“Ultimately we would aim to ban it [camping], it’s not the appropriate place.”

“People staying there overnight and lighting fires is a risk given that it’s a wooded area.

“Our aim as part of the by-laws is to rule that out,” he said, explaining that this will be done in conjunction with local gardaí.

“I definitely understand the frustration of locals,” he said.

“We aim to get the by-laws in as quick as we possibly can and get them adopted,” he assured.