Laois river 'dirtiest in Ireland' claims councillor

A Laois river is "the dirtiest river in Ireland" a local councillor has claimed.

The River Gully runs across the south of the county before emptying into the protected River Nore.

Cllr Ollie Clooney from Durrow has branded it as "just derelict" and is urging Laois County Council to take action.

"It is close to my heart. We ran and played in it as children. It's just derelict. The sight saddens me, it's absolutely shameful what this lovely river has turned into," he said.

"You just couldn't see up five yards of it. Everything is in it. Something has to be done," he declared. 

His claims do not refer to pollution, Cllr Clooney added. 

"Is it possible to survey the River Gully? If it was polluted it would be inspected fairly quick. It is a disgrace. I'll make myself available any time. It's gone on too long, it's just unbelieveable. It's the dirtiest river in Ireland," he said.

Meanwhile the Barrow River is so overgrown a swan can't land on it, another councillor claimed.

"There is money for the Nore but is there any for the Barrow? From Portarlington through to Monasterevin, parts of it the weeds are eight to 10 foot high. Swans cannot stretch their wings out on it. That's a fact. They land on the field and walk to the Barrow," Cllr PJ Kelly said.

Director of Services Simon Walton said that the council got €150,000 from the OPW for river drainage maintenance in the past two months. The works which require extensive licences clear silt and vegetation from rivers. 

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"That is a show of confidence by the OPW in our ongoing programme. 

"We have at least two or three applications with the OPW. Our window is normally August and September," he said.

Mr Walton said that a district engineer will meet with Cllr Clooney to view the river. 

Environmental rules prevent the entering of machinery into rivers for clearance of silt or vegetation from rivers for most of the year, to avoid killing wildlife.