Disagreements erupted among three Glenties Municipal District councillors at a Lifford meeting today regarding the Castlegoland Public Right of Way.
The heated debate arose over accusations of lies arising from a recent private workshop on the draft county development plan.
The right of way to Castlegoland Beach has been a contentious subject in recent years after public access was blocked by boundary fencing at a nearby Donegal golf club.
Today, councillors in Lifford agreed to adopt the part of the county development plan that recognises the Public Right of Way at Castlegoland.
The meeting grew tense when Cllr Anthony Molloy expressed his disappointment with allegedly false information being shared with campaigners from a workshop last week.
“A councillor or councillors sent back some misleading, inaccurate and untrue information discussed at that meeting,” Cllr Molloy said.
“What was discussed last week was discussed openly with a certain group, there is a bit of political assassination in here on my behalf and also on Cllr Michael McClafferty’s behalf.
“What was said to certain people was totally false and untrue and it’s not what I discussed.”
Cllr Molloy then left the meeting.
Cllr Michael McClafferty, Chair of the Glenties MD, said; “We are being accused that we were seeking to remove Castlegoland from the county development plan at that workshop. That is total lies from the person that told that, causing this array of emails and phonecalls to come to ourselves.
“I refute that allegation, it’s neither correct nor accurate,” McClafferty said.
Cllr McClafferty pointed the blame at Cllr Michael Cholm Mac Giolla Easbuig for leaking allegedly false information, asking him to withdraw his remarks to the people of Castlegoland.
Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig hit out at the “very strong allegations”.
“I am here today to support the people of Narin and Castlegoland Beach with the right of way, I support that right of way,” Cllr McClafferty said.
“We sought clarity the other day, because it was unclear what was going to, it’s being taken out of context beyond belief.”
Castlegoland Beach Public Rights of Way as recommended for the new County Development Plan 2024-2030
Amid an ‘unfortunate use of language’ from Cllr McClafferty, Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig asked for an apology and withdrawal.
Cllr McClafferty did apologise for swearing but remained resolute in seeking a withdrawal of comments from Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig. As the June elections approach, he added a call for Cllr Mac Giolla Easbuig to withdraw allegations of corruption he made at a council budget meeting in 2021.
In an attempt to return to the agenda, councillors were advised that workshops allow discussion of issues of concern to elected members. It’s not a decision-making forum and no proposals can be adopted.
Councillors agreed on one alteration to the Dooey Magheraroarty right of way to omit the leg of the route branching from the route to the pier over eastward along the dunes.
