Madam, - This past summer our family travelled from Maine in the United States to Ireland.
We had read a little about the Corrib gas project in Co Mayo before our third visit there, but we could never imagine all the changes that were taking place. Upon arrival in Pollatomish on the Erris Peninsula, our immediate reaction was one of a sense of violation to the land, violation to the water, and violation to the people.
The formerly serene area was taken over by an abundance of gardaí, lorries hauling rocks, construction vehicles, and barriers. Access to the beautiful Glengad Beach had been blocked off with a massive series of gates.
Bulldozers had begun work on building a causeway in the bay and there was an unsettling sense of disruption from the noise of all the machinery and trucks.
The formerly enjoyable pastime of taking a relaxing walk to the beach was no longer viable since safety and quiet were no longer possible with the constant stream of trucks and vehicles.
We were saddened to see such violation of nature and the environment.
Noise levels from the work on the roads and the continuous stream of lorries hauling materials back and forth have destroyed the former sense of security and peace that were intrinsic to the area.
It is unsettling to see so many gardaí present as you walk and drive through the area. We cannot imagine how difficult it must be to live with such controversy, commotion, and emotional unrest.
We have tried to be objective in our reading and research of the Corrib gas project. We worry greatly about the health and environmental effects of this project on this beautiful area of Ireland.
Our family hopes that somehow some peaceful resolution can be found. - Yours, etc,
BRIAN, MARY, KATHERINE, and MOLLY DOYLE, Newfield, Maine, USA.