"Something is going to go wrong"

Those living beside the Inishconnell lakeshore amenity have called out the apparent disregard that some visitors have for the area.

After the recent good weather the contents of bags of rubbish lay strewn along the lakeshore, while broken glass, human faeces, tissue paper, and the remnants of fires also blighted the local beauty spot.

The area is popular with tourists as it offer an unrivalled vista looking out at historic Clough Oughter, which features prominently in advertising campaigns promoting the county. The site sits in a secluded and peaceful rural location, at the end of a long lane. Those looking for an off-grid experience flock there during good weather and while locals welcome day-tourists and anglers, they strongly believe that campers should go elsewhere due to a lack of adequate facilities.

Far too regularly, they say, loud music can be heard well into the morning, while those living nearby also fear that revellers drinking by the lakeside is only an accident waiting to happen.

Those who met the Celt last week believe people camping are to blame, and are calling on the council to introduce and enforce bye-laws to stop people staying overnight.

‘NOT RIGHT’

Joey McDonald frequents the area with his dog. Recently, Joey, Station Office at Cavan Fire Station, found rubbish strewn along the shore.

“It’s not right,” Joey says. “Anyone who does want to come out and walk a dog or bring children down, you don’t know what you’re going to step into.”

He also said people drive at speed on the narrow road leading in, and shared his concerns that “something is going to go wrong out here” with people drinking and entering the water.

RISKS

“There will be a tragedy and something will definitely happen. That water is cold and it’s muddy. I personally would like to see Cavan County Council do whatever they have to get bye-laws in place that empower gardaí to move these people on,” says Joey, who suggests that a barrier system, which would close in the evenings, similar to what is in place at nearby Killykeen Forest Park.

“No overnight stays,” he believes, is the solution.

Joey also mentioned loud music as a problem, with speakers “blaring” and disturbing people in surrounding homes.

“The music carries,” Neil Armstrong, who lives close to the lake, confirmed.

Meanwhile, Evan Scannon asserts that there are a “small amount” of trees in comparison to what used to be there, with others cut down as fuel for campfires.

“You can see the evidence down there,” Joey tells the Celt, referring to an opening where trees have been chopped.

The men say similar amenity points in the area have been closed off, which is diverting even more people to places like Inishconnell and Rann Point.

“There are campsites all along the shores of this waterway, and if people want to come and they want to go camping, book the campsites and go to places where there are facilities. This is not an amenity for camping, there are no services here for any of that,” the station officer said.

As Clough Oughter castle is widely promoted, locals believe more should be done the maintain the area.

“It should be within their [Cavan County Council’s] interest to make sure that this area is kept the way it should be kept,” Joey said.

Lough Ramor

Cllr T.P. O’Reilly (FG), also chairp of the Virginia Town Team, says there is “a lot of tidying up to be done” at weekends at Lough Ramor- the vast majority of which is undertaken by local volunteers.

“People take the amenity for granted,” he believes, encouraging visitors to “ask how they can keep the place tidy, and not be depending on the council, or volunteers or anyone else”.

If people want to use the amenities they must “respect” them suggests the Virginia man who welcomes visitors to the lakeshore, but stresses that whatever they bring along with them is “your property until you go home”. Alternatively, Cllr O’Reilly says they should find somewhere “adequate” to dispose of it.

Cavan County Council have been contacted for a comment on the issues in this story.