1

HOWTH SPECIAL AMENITY

AREA MANAGEMENT

COMMITTEE

Members/alternates of the Howth SAAO:

Cllrs. David Healy, Joan Hopkins, Brian McDonagh,

Aoibhinn Tormey;

Dublin Naturalist Field Club: Declan Doogue/Con

Breen; Fingal Tourism: Neil Kennedy/Elaine O'Sullivan

HowthHillwatch: Jacqueline Feeley, Ciara Ní

LaoiHowth land owners: Ray Gilmore, Fiona

Bellingham Howth Pathways: Conn

Redmond/Dougal Cousins Howth Peninsula

Heritage Society: Edgar McLoughlin

Howth-Sutton Community Council: Nessa O'Brien

Irish Uplands Forum: Mary Tubridy

National Parks and Wildlife Service: Vacant

Howth Peninsula: Mary O'Connor/Sean Doran

Fingal Co. Co. officers supporting Howth SAAO:

Gemma Carr (SEO, Parks), Mary Godwin (SEO, Planning)

Fearghal McSweeney, (AO, Planning), Kevin Halpenny (Snr.

Parks Superintendent), Theresa Casey (EO, Parks), Carol Hurley

(Exec. Planner), Hans Visser/Deirdre O’Farrell (Biodiversity

Officers), Mary O’Reilly (Snr. Staff Officer), David Daly (Admin.)

Minutes of Meeting held Wednesday 15th

March 2023 in Baldoyle Public Library

Present: Philip O’Connor, Dougal Cousins, Conn Redmond, Edgar McLoughlin, Jacqueline Feeley, Ray

Gilmore, David Healy, Hans Visser, Gemma Carr, Fearghal McSweeney, David Daly

Apol.: Mary O’Connor, Mary Tubridy, Nessa O’ Brien, Joan Hopkins, Mary Godwin, Deirdre O’Farrell

SAAO/2 Minutes of previous meeting: Minutes of meeting of 14/12/22 proposed (by Conn

Redmond), seconded (by David Healy) and adopted. No matters arising.

SAAO/3 Update on SAAO works being implemented by Fingal Co. Co.: Hans reported: Tenders have

issued for further Rhododendron control; Pathway relocation at Bellingham’s agreed and tenders

to issue; cattle grazing continues but as dogs off lead still a problem, hidden camera (no facial

recognition) to be installed temporarily; goat grazing going well, entering kidding season, with

Council hosting a naming competition and a sponsorship/adoption programme; lease needed for

goats to graze other locations; limited Oxford sandy/black pig grazing project for bracken and

gorse to be trialled at Red Rock for 3 months, inc. temporary fencing; Deirdre to check and report

re signage needed on loop paths; Hans to circulate Failte Ireland report; Howth Head SAC covers

heathland and sea cliffs, but no survey ever done of latter, so to proceed this year; heathland reseeding

at Nose of Howth underway (nursery stage), with planting and rope fence in summer.

SAAO/4 Report from Conservation and Recreation Sub-Committee: Dougal reported. Re Op. Plan:

request again presentation on Fire Brigade report - Hans to follow up. Council’s commissioning of

a biodiversity study on woodlands welcomed, and Tetrarch if it could do similar on its lands - Ray

agrees to bring this up and also suggests a Tetrarch rep meet Hans on the Biodiversity plan; There

was concern at use of Red Rock Woodlands by ‘Forest School’ - Cttee. saw no problem with this,

agreed that Therese Casey be asked for opinion re impact; on data from pedestrian counter at

Balscadden Beach, Therese also to be asked. Other issues of the Sub-Cttee re signage, grazing

projects and dog walkers already answered in Hans’ report.

2

Edgar asked if any update re NPWS participation on Cttee. Philip had received no reply from

letter to Minister O’Brien. Is meeting Mairead Stack soon, the new NPWS ranger for this area.

On Irelands Eye jetty, Hans/Ray reported progress, with mtg. soon between engineer and

Harbour Master re design of seasonal pontoon solution. Planning to be lodged in May.

SAAO/5 Report from Planning and Communications Sub Committee: Jacqueline reported. Re new

logo: this finalised by Des Mullen and Sub-Cttee recommends acceptance. Council then say can’t

be used by them because of Irish Language Act. Cttee agreed the design on condition Irish

language aspect remedied (Irish script above logo). Sub-Cttee is organising a facilitated

Communications Workshop to clarify strategy (message, target audiences etc.), develop publicity

materials, create online SAAO identity and prepare presence at upcoming Howth Festivals.

Walking groups: Gemma to contact Sea Scouts to arrange. Planning Design Guidelines for SAAO

boundary treatment – Sub-Cttee proposed amendments to be incorporated and FCC to advise re

good practice on walls and boundaries. FCC Comms Dept. to assist re video or other appropriate.

Heritage Trail: Philp met Christine Baker, FCC Heritage Officer, for advice, who recommended

new favoured approaches and suggested applying for funding for a Heritage Audit.

Fearghal updated on enforcement matters in three cases of concern to the Cttee. Will circulate

the grounds given for Council closing one of the cases.

SAAO/6 Howth Pathways: Conn reported. Group now has presence on I-Vol seeking volunteers.

Reported all steps over Red Rock now cut and cleared. Group’s sponsorship money is used up,

but seeking support for new equipment (advised to contact Community Dept. re specific sum).

Group will participate in the Irish Spring Clean on 22/04.

SAAO/7 Expenditure: No expenditure to report.

SAAO/8 A.O.B:

• On Dougal’s proposal, Committee offered condolences to Mary O’Connor on the passing of

her brother Tommy, commending his years of work for the community. Chair to post a note

to this effect on condolences page on rip.ie.

• Philip reported issues Joan wished to have raised, re Tree Felling on Howth Rd. and issues at

Sutton Woods. Gemma answered that planning conditions allowed their removal, but also

replacement by lime trees. Sutton Woods issue to be returned to.

• Dougal raised management of saplings at Red Rock and strimming of weeds: esp. inclusion

of hazel, not native to Howth. Gemma to discuss with Operations what works can be done in

Sept. Also, clearing of sycamore and infill planting to take place Autumn/Winter.

• David Healy raised access to Deerpark following removal of one adventure tour operator’s

licence. Ray said no restrictions on public access and issue with operator purely contractual.

• Dougal asked re Tetrarch flags behind Howth Celtic grounds and asked if hedgerow

threatened. Ray confirmed fencing being installed for security.

• Gemma proposed an assessment of the varied impact of tourism from pedestrian counter

data. It was agreed this would be useful, and Cttee to return to it.

• Edgar commended Philip and others involved on success of Eire 6 restoration.

Meeting closed at 16:50.

Minutes: David Daly

 

Signed:

Philip O’Connor, Chair, Howth SAAO