By:
Sarah McCabe - Sunday Independent
Maura Harrington is a retired primary school principal and spokesperson for the Shell to Sea campaign. She lives about 25km from the Corrib gas terminal and has protested against the project since its very early days.
What they did was place a major industrial site on a greenfield area. In the 21st century, dirty industry is not innovative.
"Jobs at any cost is not a good enough reason to place a major industrial site in a beauty spot. Where do we draw the line? About 40 years ago someone tried to get a nuclear power plant built here, citing emigration. And it hasn't even been the answer to unemployment.
"Erris remains bedevilled by emigration - Shell is not the great white hope. The gas terminal has caused real division in this area. Its legacy will far outweigh any short-term jobs.
"What about jobs for people in the area who are opposed to Shell? Why should they be left behind? One of my children is unemployed, he wouldn't take a job with Shell and has no choice but to emigrate.
Posted Date:
26 October 2014