Two investigations to take place into Kerry landslide

TWO SEPARATE investigations are being carried out into the cause of the landslide in the Stacks mountains between Tralee and Listowel at the weekend.

Meanwhile, fears continue about the water supply for up to 30,000 residents of the northeast Kerry region.

Tra Investments Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Lee Strand Co-operative Creamery in Tralee that had begun site works for an eight-turbine wind farm in the Ballincollig Hill–Maghanknockane area, said that it had instructed geotechnical consultancy AGEC Ltd to undertake a study into the cause of the landslide and that it would make the findings public.

In a statement, the company said that they had planning for the wind farm and that “initial site works have taken place over the past two weeks”.

It said: “Following Friday’s incident, the company has offered full assistance to the authorities in helping those affected and the local community.” AGEC has extensive experience of ground investigation and highway earthworks in Ireland and the UK.

The company provides specialist geotechnical engineering and engineering geology advice to local authorities, contractors and consultants.

Kerry County Council is also carrying out an investigation and has brought in a group of independent hydrologists and geologists who have expertise working in bogland areas to investigate the cause of the landslide.

All emergency works that needed to be done have been carried out, and there was no question of work having to be suspended, a county council spokesman said.

However, any further clean-up operation would not continue until a complete assessment was undertaken.

Brian Sweeney, executive engineer with the council’s water services department, appealed to the 20,000 people in the Listowel and Tarbert areas who are supplied with water from the Feale reservoir to conserve water.

An alternative supply was being sought for the area’s second reservoir because of “suspended solids” in the Smearlagh river, according to the council.

Meanwhile, the council was yesterday hoping to restore road access to the Harris family home in Maghanknockane.

There has been no road access to the home since the landslide swept the road and a bridge away on Friday.

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times