Mayo councillor blasts planning laws preventing diaspora from building homes

A MAYO councillor has blasted current planning laws which he said would prevent his grandchild in Chicago and other emigrants from building in the homeland of their parents.

Geesala-based councillor Gerry Coyle spoke out against the planning laws currently in operation in the county where applicants looking to build in certain rural areas will have to 'clearly demonstrate their long standing intrinsic links to the area' in order to get permission.

The Fine Gael councillor made his comments at the monthly meeting of Mayo County Council where he pointed out that the daughter of a Doohoma man recently had to withdraw an application to build in his native village.

“The daughter of a man, who moved away at 16 years old, had to withdraw a planning application in September 2025 because Mayo County Council said she had no links to the area,” Cllr Coyle told the meeting.

In an emotive address to the chamber, Cllr Coyle said it seems there is 'a céad míle fáilte when you come for one or two weeks' but people 'cannot stay any longer' if they want to move back to rural Ireland.

“Is that what it looks like? Maybe you should include a DNA test when you are sending out a planning application because if there was a DNA test done in Doohoma, the DNA of this person would be found there. That is without a doubt.

“Do I need to remind you again that from 1939 to 1969, almost £3 billion was returned to Ireland by way of wire and telegram and I can say here without fear or contradiction that the same or more came by way of cash and cheque.

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“Before ever there was a Kevin Bell [repatriation] fund, these people looked after or sent back people to be buried in Doohoma. But yet the daughter of a man who is still alive, his daughter is told she does not have links to the area.

“My own grandchild now in Chicago will be asked the same thing. Prove you have links to Geesala if you want to build a house. I never heard such rubbish in my life that a person whose father was born in the area and baptised in a church where money was sent back from England to build, she now has no links to that area.

“If there is anyone that can prove more links to an area than this person, let them speak now or forever be silent,” he told the meeting.

Cllr Coyle also pointed out that Mayo County Council plan to build social houses in Doohoma and questioned whether the people who are allocated those houses are asked to prove they have links to the area.

The planning application Cllr Coyle referred to was that of Caroline Gaughan, a daughter of Doohoma native Tony Gaughan. She withdrew a planning application to build a house on a site in Doohoma. During the application process, council planners indicated that they 'may only permit permanent housing needs in these areas where the applicants have established such a housing need'.

Ms Gaughan was asked to submit comprehensive details to clearly demonstrate long standing intrinsic links to the area which is required in order to comply with the Mayo County Development Plan for housing proposals located in coastal areas of Co Mayo.

In a reply submitted by David O'Malley, on behalf of Ms Gaughan, he stated that the applicant clearly has a long standing social link to the area and spent extensive time in Doohoma as a child and worked on the family farm during summer holidays.

He added that Ms Gaughan presently runs a coffee shop/restaurant in Castlebar and wishes to relocate to Doohoma and is hoping to open a similar business in Belmullet.

The application was withdrawn by Ms Gauaghan on September 29 before planners were due to make a decision.

A number of councillors at the monthly meeting supported Cllr Coyle's comments with many stating that people who wish to move to rural areas should be encouraged rather than putting obstacles in their way.