A little bit of Norway was officially declared Irish territory in Galway Bay yesterday when the €70 million Mutton Island sewage treatment plant was opened by the Minister of State for the Environment, Mr Pat The Cope Gallagher.
Some 50,000 tonnes of rock had to be imported from the Scandinavian state as part of the construction works - billed as the largest environmental infrastructure project in the west of Ireland.
Monsignor Seán O'Flaherty of Galway Cathedral gave his blessing to the plant, which is now treating some "99 per cent" of Galway city's sewage.
Initial results from the plant show marked improvement in the quality of water in the general bay area already, according to Galway city manager Mr John Tierney. He said he hoped that it won't be too long before Blue Flags are flying once more on its beaches.
The treatment plant was built without EU cohesion funding, following the Commission's decision to withdraw funding over the chosen location.
The Minister for the Environment, Mr Cullen, was due to perform the opening but was forced to cancel as he was due in the Dáil for the debate on the controversial Electoral (Amendment) Bill.
Also present at yesterday's opening were Minister of State for Labour Affairs Mr Frank Fahey, former junior environment minister Mr Bobby Molloy and former Galway city manager Mr Joe Gavin, who initiated the controversial scheme almost a decade ago.
Mr Bill Scanlan, former lightkeeper and a member of the last resident lightkeeping family at Mutton Island, was a special guest.
The plant is a key part of the €112 million Galway main drainage scheme, the Minister of State said, and he was "pleased and privileged" to have had the honour of officially opening what he described as "undoubtedly the most important project for this city for many generations".
Mr Gallagher said that Galway County Council had been given clearance to advertise for tenders for the €17 million Carna/Kilkieran Regional Water Supply Scheme and to go ahead with the preparation of contract documents for the first phase of the Barna Sewerage Scheme.