HOWTHSPECIAL AMENITY AREA MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE

Members/alternates of the Howth SAAO:                                                                     

Cllrs D. Healy, J. Hopkins, B McDonagh, C Haughey

Chairperson: Philip O’Connor

Dublin Naturalist Field Club: D. Doogue/Renee Malone

Fingal Tourism: Neil Kennedy/Elaine O’Sullivan

Hillwatch: Jacqueline Feeley

Howth Land Owners: Fiona Bellingham, Caroline Core Grimes

Howth Pathways: Conn Redmond/Dougal Cousins

Peninsula Heritage Society: Edgar McLoughlin

Irish Uplands Forum: Mary Tubridy

Howth Castle: Eoin Quinlan

Howth Sutton Community Council: Nessa O’Brien

National Parks and Wildlife Service: Mairéad Stack

Howth Peninsula: Mary O’Connor/Sean Doran

Old Irish Goats: Sean Carolan

Fingal County Council officers supporting Howth SAAO:

Brian Murray (SEO, Planning)Kevin Halpenny (Snr. Parks Superintendent)Gemma Carr (Senior Exec. Parks and Landscape Officer) Fearghal McSweeney (AO, Planning) Hans Visser (Senior Exec. Parks and Landscape Officer) (Carol Hurley (Exec Planner) Therese Casey (Exec. Parks and Landscape Officer) Lisa Doyle (Assistant Biodiversity Officer) Killian O’Sullivan (Assistant Planner) Sorcha King (Graduate Parks and Landscape Officer) Zer Barokas (Graduate Parks and Landscape Officer)

David Daly (Admin)

Present: Dougal Cousins, Jacqueline Feeley, Seán Carolan, Sorcha King, Edgar McLoughlin, Lisa Doyle, Fearghal McSweeney, Cllr. David Healy, Mary O’Connor, Caroline Gore-Grimes, Hans Visser, Killian O’Sullivan, Mairead Stack, Ciara McGowan, Fuzion Representatives Michelle and Helena.

Apologies: Cllr. Brian McDonagh, Nessa O’Brien, Philip O’Connor, Therese Casey, Conn Redmond, Mary Tubridy

In the absence of the Chair Philip O’Connor, Dougal Cousins deputised as Chair for this meeting.

Item 1: Minutes of the meeting held on 18^th September were Proposed (by Caroline Gore-Grimes) and Seconded (by Edgar McLoughlin) and approved.

Item 2: There were no matters arising from the last meeting.

Item 3: Seán Carolan gave a presentation on the partnership between the Old Irish Goat Society and the SAAO Committee and also gave a brief history of the Old Irish Goat Society itself. A partnership between the two organisations was discussed and a Partnership Declaration was displayed. The partnership was proposed by Jacqueline Feeley and seconded by Councillor David Healy and agreed. Seán thanked the Committee for their time and opened the floor to questions. Councillor David Healy asked if the goats manage archaeological sites elsewhere? The goats manage some old graveyards and other small-scale projects in Mayo. The make up of the working group was also discussed and this is to be followed up at a later date.

Item 4: Sorcha King discussed the works being implemented by the Operations Department. The pathway repair works between the  Baily and Red Rock path are almost completed. The remaining works will be carried out once the ground conditions improve. The works were done due to health and safety reasons and to address water logging. Sorcha thanked Howth Pathways for rerouting suggestions for walkers during the works as some sections were closed off during maintenance works. Dougal stated that meetings between Howth Pathways and the Operations Department will continue.

Item 5: Hans Visser provided an update on biodiversity. The coastal pathway diversion at Bellinghams Farm is completed, including the closure of the old route. The Management Plan for Howth SAC  ...  view the full minutes text for item 1.