SERIOUS concern over a threat to the Curragh Plains was highlighted last week by the local community.

Unique grasslands and flora at the Curragh are in danger, according to members of the community who walk the area on a regular basis. Concern for the future of the area spurred Newbridge man Tim Sheehy to write a letter to local representatives and groups calling for some form of management control to be put in place.

Areas of grassland damaged by vehicles, dumping sites and camp fires, were just some of the problems highlighted by Mr Sheehy who regularly takes an 8km walk starting and finishing at Lumville House.

“Look at Phoenix Park and how well that is cared for. Our own amenity here in Kildare is being destroyed,” he said.

“Anything goes there at the moment. I’m told there is a rare grassland on the Curragh Plains that doesn’t regenerate easily yet no one knows whether cars are allowed to drive all over it or not.”

Local councillors debated the issue at county council level and called for a meeting with the Minister for Defence regarding the establishment of a committee to oversee the management of the plains.

Cllr Mark Lynch quoted the Irish geologist, botanist, author and broadcaster Dr John Feehan of UCD who has said in the past the area needs to be conserved and treated properly and believes that this is not happening.

“Dr Feehan says he is embarrassed to bring people from outside of Ireland to the Curragh and to me as a local representative this is not on, yet understandable from his point of view. I have been on the Curragh since I could first walk and it is a special place to me, I will not stand by and see it being destroyed and ignored any longer,” he said.

Cllr Fiona McLoughlin Healy agreed and added that Curragh Plains are truly unique in terms of its flora and fauna, its history, its myths and legends and the Curragh Camp.

“On a continuous basis the Curragh plains are damaged by littering, unauthorized developments, ploughing up of furze and activities like unregulated scrambling. We need to protect the Curragh landscape and with it, its historical, archaeological and environmental uniqueness that makes it a valuable tourist attraction,” she said.

Amendments have been called for also to be made to the Curragh of Kildare Act to make legislation preventing damage to the plains possible.