Ministerial intervention sought to save Mayo Peace Park memorial wall

COUNCILLORS in Castlebar are adamant that the memorial wall in the town's Peace Park will not collapse under their watch.

The structure has suffered from subsidence, and council management has been asked why it cannot be underpinned.

Councillor Harry Barrett has demanded 'stronger action', calling on the OPW to support specialist renovation at the site.

If the wall collapses on their watch it will be a national embarrassment, he told colleagues at the monthly Castlebar Municipal District meeting.

Councillor Barrett asked the council to write to Minister Kevin 'Boxer' Moran, inviting him to Castlebar and to fund the specialist repairs needed to save the memorial wall.

The district's cathaoirleach, Councillor Ger Deere, said he had been contacted by people in the field about underpinning the wall.

Three-storey buildings can be underpinned and at the end of the day this was a block wall they were dealing with, he pointed out.

Members were told how the wall's foundations had failed.

An engineering review has taken place which looked at underpinning, but the cost was substantial compared to taking the wall down.

The cost at the time was estimated at €400,000 to take down the stone work, store it, rebuild the wall, redo the foundation and drainage.

* Funded under the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme