There is growing anger in Co Mayo over the cutting of hedgerows along the main roads by the local authority at this time of year. Many landowners and bird lovers say that Mayo County Council is destroying the local bird population by undertaking this work at a time of year when birds are nesting.
Yesterday morning, Mr Tom Cunnane, of Esker, Knock, who is confined to a wheelchair, stopped a council tractor from cutting any further hedgegrows along the road where he and his family live.
"I heard the tractor approaching my house and I managed to get out on the road and block it with my wheelchair. I explained to the driver that I would not allow one inch more of the hedges to be cut, and that he'd have to drive over my wheelchair if he continued," said Mr Cunnane.
"The driver explained that he was only doing his job, but he got off the tractor and called his boss who told him to stop the work. I also spoke to his boss and outlined to him why it's wrong to do this work just now.
"Last year we minded and fed yellow hammers in the hedges here for weeks and then the council came along and wrecked their nests, around this time of year. It's not right.
"It's beyond me why the local authority can't wait a few weeks to do this work. I appreciate having the bushes cut, and it's important for traffic, but a few weeks later and the birds would be fine," Mr Cunnane said.