A roundup of today's other regional news
Fight to save Cork Beamish site to continue
Conservationists seeking to have a microbrewery and tourist centre installed on the Beamish brewery site in Cork have vowed to step up their campaign following a "disappointing" meeting with Heineken Ireland officials.
The meeting yesterday was the first to take place between Heineken Ireland and the National Conservation and Heritage Group since the drinks company, which took over the State’s oldest brewery in December as part of a €10.5 billion deal, announced its intention to sell the site two weeks ago.
The chairman of the heritage group Damien Cassidy said the group would take its fight to save the site “to any level” to protect its national and historic significance.
Stopping for a pint of the famous stout in Cork is listed as a top tourist activity on the World Travel Guide website, which opens up opportunities to develop and market a microbrewery to the US market, according to Mr Cassidy.
“We are extremely disappointed with the outcome of the meeting, they simply told us that there would be no heritage site, no chance to develop the brewery as a tourist attraction. They could have told us as much over the phone.”
Declan Farmer, Heineken Ireland corporate affairs manager, said the Counting House building would be presented to the market in its “current pristine condition”.
Bypass gaps ‘too small’ for wildlife
The National Roads Authority has been told the gaps they have proposed for the median wall on the Gorey bypass in Co Wexford “would hardly let a snail through”.
The issue first came to light when councillor Lorcan Allen voiced his concern that there were no gaps in the median wall for animals trying to get across the new 23km stretch of roadway, leading to carnage among the local wildlife.
At yesterday’s meeting of Wexford County Council, it heard that the NRA had been in touch with the local authority and, in response to Mr Allen’s concerns, were proposing a gap of 10cm every 50 metres.
County manager Eddie Breen said badger passes had been constructed as part of the Gorey bypass to allow animals to pass under it, but some animals were not so eager to follow that route. “It won’t take much adjustment to increase the size of the opening in the median wall.”
De Bernieres for Listowel week
Louis de Bernieres, author of the best seller Captain Corelli's Mandolin, and poet John Montague who is celebrating his 80th birthday this year, are among the literary luminaries to have signed up for the 2009 Listowel Writers' Week.
This year’s five-day festival, the 39th, will be opened by actor Gabriel Byrne on May 27th, while the winner of the Kerry Group Irish Fiction Award will be named on the night.