FAMILY TRIP TO INCHAGOILL ISLAND ON LOUGH CORRIB
Letter published in the Galway Advertiser – May 24, 2012
Dear Editor,
On a recent family trip to Inchagoill Island we could hear music as we approached the island and realised there was a party going on. We proceeded into the bay to dock at the pier.
As we approached the pier, a young man, blind drunk, ran out to the pier shouting and waving a stick. He was swearing and menacing at the top of his lungs to keep away. We docked at the pier and were then approached by another man who asked if we intended to dock there, that there was another boat coming, and it would be docking there and for us to move. Then, another guy came up and asked if we were bothered by this? What do you say?
We had intended to park up and walk the island but couldn’t leave the boat anywhere near that pier, so we decided to go around to the other side of the island and leave the party goers and their organisers to their own devices.
We pulled up on the other side, had our picnic and went to walk around the church and graveyard. We heard them before we saw them. One of the men was urinating in the graveyard and there were discarded bottles.
I have no problem with licensed, organised events. But there has to be rules. There has to be a mechanism for the enforcement of these rules.
Who gives permission for parties on the island? What days are the parties scheduled for? (the public needs to know not to go on those days). Don’t let the island be vandalised. Keep the party area enclosed, no bottles, rubbish, or out of control antics outside that area. The organisers need to keep control and they should be licensed and insured for these events. They should be held responsible for the wellbeing of partygoers and the public’s property.
These ruins and gravestones are hundreds of years old. People lived on the island less than a hundred years ago. It shows a complete lack of respect for our heritage and people to encourage these parties; there are plenty of other islands or areas that would not be of such significance – to hold these parties. I can honestly say that the partygoers would probably not know the difference if it was held in a shed.
I have asked around to see who organised this event and was told that it was college students.
Name and address with editor
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