Cobh Show of Strength Rally

Despite the weather - over 2,000 show their anger


Over 85 Farmers and their tractors - say not one Pylon on our land

This is the day was reported in Newspapers....

Strong anti-pylon message !
People living around Cork Harbour gave a strong message to the E.S.B. last Saturday that no more overhead powerlines and pylons would be tolerated and the controversial 220kv line should be put underground. Fifty-two tractors from Aghada, Saleen, Cobh and Rafeen came in formation into Cobh behind a crowd of about 2,000 including jugglers, trick cyclists, grim reapers and the general public, and they were behind St. Colman’s Pipe Band and Donal Varian in a “Ministerial” car. Shops displayed anti-pylon signs.

Cara, the Cork Harbour Anti-Pylon Representative Association, which brings the urban and farming protest groups together as well as Chamber of Commerce, was accorded a civic welcome by Mr. Terry Anderson, Cathaoirleach of Cobh U.D.C. Mr. Anderson said the U.D.C. was opposed to the additional overhead line and he wished to convey his appreciation of the Cara campaign. The campaign has been going for six years, Mr. Pat Gill, Chairman of the Cobh Anti-pylon group told the attendance. He reiterated that the anti-pylon protest was not against power, and said the underwater alternative would have the capacity for the transmission of even more power to meet future needs.

Mr. John Mulvihill, Cathaoirleach of Cork Co. Council, reminded the people that the executive section of Cork Co. Council granted the planning permission to the ESB not the elected members. Mr. Mulvihill said the Port of Cork of which he was a member had no difficulty with the underwater line across the bed of the harbour, contrary to what the ESB had indicated.

Mr. Charlie Hennessy, a former member of Passage West Town Commissioners said he had been around the harbour in boats for the past fifty years and he recommended the Dognose Bank route, which would be away from the anchorage for ships in the harbour. Mr. Hennessy said he had been at five meetings with the ESB and an official “put Harry Houdini in the half penny place” so well was he able to avoid answering questions, and said the ESB was “semi-Stalinist.”

Mr David Bird, President of Cobh and Harbour Chamber of Commerce, said the reputation of a company of which the people had been proud was sullied by arrogance. Mr. Bird said power was required and the environment needed to be protected and he added support for the underwater and underground route. So did Mr. Joe Snow, on behalf of Passage West Town Commissioners.

Both Mr. Willie Cunningham and Mr. John Ahern, one time colleagues on the Cobh hurling team, pledged that not a wire would go up, and not an inch would be conceded. Mr. Ahern spoke on behalf of the owners of thirty-five farmers over whose land the line had been planned to go, and Mr. Cunningham, a native of Great Island, is a former school principal and a member of Aghada Community Council.

Pat Kinevane, the well known actor, a friend of Patricia Casey, the demonstration organiser, since their schooldays, said that, though he no longer lived on Great Island, his family and nephews and nieces did, and the people should have an uninterrupted view of the sky and vista of the sea.

Mr. Cunningham acknowledged the help of Mr. Michael Ahern T.D., Mr. David Stanton T.D. and Cllr. Jon Mulvihill. Other politicians present included the entire membership of Cobh U.D.C. Paul Bradford T.D., Michael Hegarty M.C.C., and Joe Sherlock, M.C.C.

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