Planning permission should be required for the running of events such as the Galway Races,according to Mayo priest Fr Micheál MacGréil.
The Dublin-based former sociology lecturer was speaking ahead of the annual pilgrimage to the Connemara mountain of Maméan this Sunday. The extension of the Galway Races to Sunday is interfering significantly with events run by communities in the region, he believes.
It is expected that large numbers will climb the 1,000ft mountain on Sunday. Ceremonies begin at the summit at 3pm with the Stations of the Cross and Mass will be celebrated at 4.15pm. All the services are in Irish.