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23 Oct 2025

Submissions on quarry

A quarry owned by businessman Frank Harrington may not benefit by recent planning exemptions.
Planning board allows submissions on quarry

Áine Ryan


A QUARRY owned by Mayo Person of the Year, Frank Harrington, may not benefit by recent planning exemptions and its processing operations may be deemed ‘unauthorised’ by An Bord Pleanála (ABP), The Mayo News has learned. Both Mr Harrington and objectors to ongoing operations at the quarry at Stripe, near Knock Airport, have until Thursday next, June 5, to make observations about matters relating to this quarry     
In a letter, seen by The Mayo News – which was sent by An Bord Pleanála to a number of interested parties on May 12 – it is revealed that Mr Harrington claims the quarry commenced operations around March 1984.
Under the Planning and Development Act 2000, this means the quarry cannot benefit from the planning exemptions which facilitate quarries opened prior to October 1964.
The letter states: “It appears to the Board that this quarry commenced operation on or about March 1984 …. and, therefore, would not benefit from any planning exemptions based on having commenced operation prior to October 1964.“
It continues: “It appears to the Board that the quarrying activity on site might therefore be unauthorised development, and that the Board might be precluded from granting permission for retention of the processing equipment as applied for (including crushing, screening, washing plant etc) since to do so would facilitate the continuation of unauthorised development on the site.”
However, according to a County Council spokesman, there are a number of further confusing issues relating to this particular quarry, including whether it was quarried by previous owners, prior to 1984.
“Clearly, from the tone of the board’s [ABP] letter they are still deliberating on the status of this quarry,” said the spokesman.
Meanwhile, an objector to the ongoing development at the quarry claims that, in the past, a series of senior County Council officials recommended that Enforcement Orders be imposed on this quarry but, notwithstanding this, a decision was made to issue a retention order.
According to a County Council spokesman, enforcement proceedings are not usually implemented if the developer – after receiving a Warning Letter from the Council – makes a subsequent application for retention, since the highlighted issues are then subject to the planning process and a decision.  

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