'The people are angry' - protests in Ardmore against water sports facility for Waterford village
The community of Ardmore rally against a sports facility project for the Waterford village.
Members of the Ardmore community have this week protested the construction of a water sports facility in the area.
Hundreds of residents met at the beach yesterday evening (Monday, April 7) to express their anger and disappointment, while local swim groups gathered on the beach this morning (Tuesday, April 8) for a further demonstration.
'Ardmore Say No' and 'Our Village Our Choice' was the message coming from the cohort of protesters.
The facility in question aims to further develop water-based activities, such as kayaking, surfing, paddle boarding and sea swimming in the area. It will cost in the region of €1.2 million.
Locals say that the development is not needed or wanted by the community, and that the beachfront will be "destroyed and part of the history and character of the village ruined forever".
Residents also said this week that their voices have not been heard and engagement with the local community has been "tokenistic".
One local, Tony Gallagher, commented that "government policy is eradicating village life".
He said: "I have lived in this village for over 80 years. Young people now have no chance of owning or renting a home and as a result the village is dying.
"I do not understand why millions of euros are being spent on outdoor showers instead of vital services; for example we were marching for school buses last year."
Residents have said that there is a myriad of such issues in the village which "desperately" need to be prioritised.
Housing, school transport and the addition of a footpath to the local GAA grounds need to be addressed they say, as does the area's declining population.
Local resident Carole Troy said that "Ardmore is no longer the thriving community it once was."
"I believe the current generation and most definitely future generations are being forced out of the village by the Council's wanton granting of planning for large scale holiday home developments and once off holiday homes.
"The failure to engage with and listen to local concerns for many years has forced us into this crisis. The people of Ardmore are angry and will no longer allow their village to be destroyed by developers and bureaucracy."
