Belturbet to reanimate mammoth legacy

The Erneside town of Belturbet is planning to reanimate an historic legacy of mammoth proportions by erecting a replica of a species that last roamed the regions until its extinction in the Holocene epoch almost 12,000 years ago.

The Belturbet Community Development Association Limited has applied to Cavan County Council for permission for this most unusual of projects, which is being spearheaded by local development group, Project Belturbet.

The proposal, submitted to planners at the local authority, is to erect a life-sized structure, otherwise known by its scientific ‘Mammuthus primigenius’, together with associated site works at the former Railway Station Site, at Straheglin, Belturbet.

It had previously been hoped to house the Mammoth within the confines of Turbet Island, which has already received significant investment with the launch of the local artist, Jackie O’Neill’s inspired Dreamscape Trail.

The development of the Geo Park site has been funded through the PEACE IV scheme.

It was previously believed that the first ever remnants in Europe of a prehistoric woolly mammoth were found on Turbet Island.

However, it was subsequently discovered, following extensive research carried out by the Celt, that the discovery was made on lands through which the Bunnoe River runs, surrounded by the townlands of Magherintemple, Lattacapple, Corrinshingo and Coppanagh.

The Belturbet connection was established as the first account of discovering the remains was provided by a prominent town resident, Francis Nevill. It was later transcribed by renowned naturalist Thomas Molyneux in the Royal Society’s journal ‘Philosophical Translations’ in 1715.

Nevill first announced the discovery of mammoth remains ‘near Belturbet’ in 1714, after bones were dug up during the excavation of a mill on the border between Cavan and Monaghan.

A decision on the Belturbet Community Development Association Limited proposal is due in mid-January.