BETWEEN 200 TO 300 Clare people protested along the streets of Ennis on Saturday as efforts to gain access to a defective blocks scheme intensifies for affected homeowners.
Growing anger and distrust towards the county’s politicians was evident as members of the Clare Pyrite Action Group spoke of the “ticking time bombs” their homes are turning into with the concrete blocks continuing to crumble.
As they marched from Áras Contae an Chláir to the Daniel O’Connell monument in the heart of Ennis, homeowners shouted for “justice for Clare” and a redress scheme that would meet the needs of the property owners whose beloved homes face demolition.
Joining the protesters were affected homeowners from Donegal, Sligo, Mayo and Limerick with the protest heard issues of pyrite have also emerged in Wexford and Tipperary.
Clare’s first pyrite march sees affected homeowners take to the streets of Ennis. pic.twitter.com/geonzH6LsZ
— The Clare Echo (@ClareEcho) January 29, 2022
All of Clare’s TDs were present, Violet-Anne Wynne (SF), Michael McNamara (IND), Cathal Crowe (FF) and Joe Carey (FG). It marked the first appearance of McNamara at an event organised by the Clare Pyrite Action Group. Senator Timmy Dooley (FF) and Senator Martin Conway (FG) were in attendance.
Local representatives, Mayor of Clare, Cllr PJ Ryan (IND), Cllr Michael Begley (IND), Cllr Pat Hayes (FF), Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF), Cllr Mary Howard (FG), Cllr John Crowe (FG), Cllr Pat McMahon (FF), Cllr Donna McGettigan (SF), Cllr Alan O’Callaghan (FF), Cllr Pat O’Gorman (FF) and Cllr Gerry Flynn (IND) were present for the protest.
Ironically signs belonging to the Pyrite Action Group were falling as they reached the O’Connell Monument, “even our signs are coming down with the houses,” co-founder and Chairperson of the Group, Dr Martina Cleary quipped. She called the houses affected by pyrite in Clare, “ticking time bombs”.
Scientific testing, thousands of pages of reports and significant investment have all been used to back up the problem of pyrite in Clare, Dr Cleary stated as she criticised the antics of the Department of Housing. “An insult to the people of Clare,” is what the Crusheen woman remarked of a response from Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien (FF) at the start of December. The Department continue to compile “an exhaustive never-ending list” to try keep Clare from getting redress, she told the crowd. “Why are we being denied help and dragged down the road with timelines,” Dr Cleary questioned.
Criticism of Clare’s elected representatives was vociferous at the protest. Dr Cleary noted it as “very disappointing” that the Oireachtas members from the county wanted to set Mayo and Donegal “fixed up” before following through for their own area, “our politicians are making noise in Dublin but it is not enough”. Politicians are aware of more houses impacted by pyrite than the action group, she claimed.
She urged Oireachtas members not to pass the current or new grant scheme, “the new scheme is a scam”. Dr Cleary added, “We have been silenced, we have no voice. If the current grant continues you will be sitting in a rotting house and your children will be left a pile of rubble”.
Vice Chairperson of the Clare Pyrite Action Group, Mary Hanley urged those in attendance to talk to their neighbours, relations and friends, “some of them are afraid, nervous and embarrassed, I was too,” she admitted of revealing the presence of defective concrete blocks.
Having welcomed Minister O’Brien to her Drumline home in August, Mary was furious that he failed to deliver on his promises. “The Minister was so nice and pleasant, he told we’d have a decision in a couple of weeks but it’s been a hell of a long time since the 27th of August”. She said this would be the first of many protests if action was not taken.
