Murrisk area to receive new water connections within six months

WORK on extending the Lough Mask water supply to Murrisk and Lecanvey will soon begin, with the first houses to be connected within the next six months.

A ceremony took place in Murrisk on Friday to mark the signing of the contracts and the beginning of the work on the ground to connect up to 500 houses in the area with fresh water.

The communities of Murrisk, Lecanvey and Kilsallagh have campaigned for a number of years to be connected to the Lough Mask water supply. Their current supply comes from Croagh Patrick and requires boiling before it can be consumed.

A cross-community steering committee was set up to highlight the problem with the poor water supply to the region which attracts thousands of visitors each year who climb Croagh Patrick.

Winters Contractors from north Mayo have been appointed to carry out work on the main line along the main road from the junction of the West Road and Pound Road to Kilsallagh while Carty Contractors from Collooney were appointed to complete the work on the distribution mains throughout the hinterland from Belclare to Bouris.

Local councillor Christy Hyland welcomed the news that work will begin on the ground and feels that the new water supply will provide opportunities for businesses in the local community to grow.

“It is a game changer for that area because it is such a beautiful area. I can see new businesses being set up there because of that new water supply. To say it is one of the best infrastructures to be put in place since we came on the council is an understatement. Fair play to the people who lobbied hard and to all the people who did the business and is the best news for our area in many years. It should have been done 20 years ago but it wasn't and people suffered,” he said.

Ring praised

FINE Gael councillor Peter Flynn praised local TD Michael Ring for his role in getting funding for the connection to Murrisk and added that without him it would not have happened.

“It would be remiss not to mention Michael Ring as well because we would not have water coming to west Mayo without his intervention at the cabinet table and ensuring it was prioritised. It is the people of Murrisk and the committee who worked morning, noon and night to push this on over the years and pulled together all the applications and pulled in over 500 connections.

“The anticipation is some people will be connected over the next six or seven months and most people will be connected by the end of the year. It will happen at speed and it is a really positive story,” he said.

Cllr Flynn added that there is still a small window of opportunity for households to be part of the scheme and he encouraged them to sign up.