Cork county councillors are planning to formally object to Minister for Agriculture Martin Haydon’s decision to grant planning permission for a controversial mussel farm in Kinsale Harbour. The proposed farm is reportedly the size of 12 GAA pitches.
The issue was raised by Fianna Fáil councillor Gillian Coughlan during a meeting in County Hall, leading to the suspension of standing orders. Coughlan highlighted that the council, in its capacity as both the planning authority and the Kinsale port authority, had previously objected to the mussel farm. She also noted that approximately 1,000 people had also objected.
Coughlan stated that following the ministerial order granting permission, a well-attended public meeting took place in Kinsale last Sunday. Expert speakers at the meeting detailed the reasons why the project should not proceed.
“To say people were disappointed and dismayed is an understatement,” she said. “It would be insane to let this go ahead.”
She explained that the farm would cover 23.16 hectares of the seabed and be adjacent to the shipping lane. Coughlan expressed concerns that mussels could enter boat engines, causing damage, and cited a marine biologist’s advice against locating such a project in the harbour.
Coughlan also argued that the mussel farm could negatively impact Kinsale’s economy, emphasizing its importance as a tourism destination: “Kinsale is the jewel in the crown of tourism” in the region.
Fine Gael councillor Marie O’Sullivan, a restaurant owner in Kinsale, pointed out that the proposed mussel beds would be situated between Charles Fort, James Fort, and Dock Beach.
“Shrimp fishermen there will be impacted. Mussels will disseminate everywhere. I’m concerned the beach will be destroyed by dredging and mussel shells will wash up there. A huge amount of private boats are anchoring there and RNLI could get called out to more boat engine breakdowns,” she stated.
Independent councillor John Collins criticized Minister Haydon’s claim that granting permission was in the public’s interest.
“If he was in Temperance Hall (where the public meeting was held) he’d know it’s not in interest of people of Kinsale and surrounding area,” Collins said.
He added that a demonstration against the mussel farm is being organized in the town for the coming Friday, and emphasized that the business would only directly employ around six people.
Independent councillor Alan Coleman emphasized the widespread opposition to the project across Kinsale society. He advocated for the council itself, not just individual councillors, to lodge a formal objection within the three-week deadline.
Fianna Fáil councillor Audrey Buckley, who chairs the council’s Coastal Special Purposes Committee, also supported the council submitting a formal objection. “I feel it’s outrageous this planning permission was granted,” said Mayor of County Cork, Fianna Fáil councillor Joe Carroll.
Council chief executive Moira Murrell stated that she would investigate the possibility of council officials lodging a formal objection as a local authority. Meanwhile, her officials will compile a file for the councillors to submit an objection on their behalf.
Coughlan urged Ms Murrell to also make a formal objection. “We’re the port authority and should stand up to the minister, otherwise what next?” she asked.
