Farmleigh ancient oak felled for TV cameras

Victor

Grrrr :mad:

http://home.eircom.net/content/unison/national/3118420?view=Eircomnet

Farmleigh ancient oak felled for TV cameras
From:The Irish Independent
Sunday, 2nd May, 2004

AN ancient oak tree which graced the front lawns of Farmleigh was chopped down last week - to give TV cameras better pictures of the government mansion which was a central part of yesterday's EU celebrations, writes Liam Collins.

The tree - one of a pair of 350-year-old Irish oaks - used to stand about 200 yards from the former Guinness mansion where the EU Heads of State dined last night.

But because it blocked TV signals and cameras between the press centre and Farmleigh, it was cut down.

Fine Gael EU parliament candidate Mairead McGuinness said she was absolutely outraged. "There must be 500 other ways of improving camera angles without destroying a piece of our heritage, particularly in front of a highly significant historical building," she fumed.

And Green Party leader Trevor Sargent said the action reflected very badly on the Irish presidency of the EU, adding that he would raise the matter with Minister of State Tom Parlon who is responsible for the OPW.

Superman

thats pretty bad, I like trees!

Hands off brussels!

Verdammt

An absolute disgrace, are they going to knock down the castle now to build apartments ??

Where does it end ??

Superman

Originally posted by Verdammt
are they going to knock down the castle now to build apartments ??

Funny you should say that but I heard a plan (ok i think it was in the star!, so maybe not reliable) that they were going to convert the racecourse into apartments.

Lemming

That bit of news was fairly obscene. They felled a part of our heritage so Beeeeeeerrrrrtie could look good. Nothing the current shower of f*cking tossers in power does surprises me anymore

TBH, a very poor example to the new accession countires, and the rest of the EU too.

Victor

Originally posted by Verdammt
An absolute disgrace, are they going to knock down the castle now to build apartments ??

Which castle? And yes they will be building on the race course, although the council have been insistent that it be done properly (providing new train station, local services, etc.).

alleepally

Just read it in the indo today and couldn't believe it! the OPW wasn't available for comment of course.

People, use your vote in June to give a serious bloody nose to these muppets !!!!

peeps

it makes me sick:mad:
its like they all got together when they got into leinster house for the first time and said "how can we f**k up this country and its enviorment the most?"

uberwolf

the only thing about this I heard was a denial that it was even in the line of sight of the cameras as it was around the side of the house and that it was rotten - hence the chop.

BrianD

In addition to the properties being built on the old race course there are apartments proposed on a site opposite Farmleigh House and adjacent to the Park.

There will be no new rail station for the Phoenix Park development - there is an existing station (Ashtown) nearby. All the former grandstand buildings on the racecourse were worthy of preservation but seemed to be prone to catching fire. This included the substantial red brick house close to the ashtown round about (this could have made an excellent conversion to apartments at the very least).

I believe the felled oak tree blocked a line of sight as TV signals cab be cabled around trees or bounced by microwave.

BrianD3

The Sunday Independent f*cks up yet again - the story was complete BS. The paper has apologised to the OPW over the original story. The actual story is that the tree was a diseased 200 year old sycamore, it was not interfering with TV transmissions and was felled purely for safety reasons.

BrianD3

alleepally

Originally posted by BrianD3
The Sunday Independent f*cks up yet again - the story was complete BS. The paper has apologised to the OPW over the original story. The actual story is that the tree was a diseased 200 year old sycamore, it was not interfering with TV transmissions and was felled purely for safety reasons.

BrianD3

Is there a link to that anywhere. Would love to see the grovelling apology.

BrianD3

You need to sign in to unison to get the story so to save you the trouble, here it is:

Source: Sunday Independent 09/05/04

OPW says Farmleigh tree was diseased

THE Office of Public Works has confirmed that the felling of a 200-year-old sycamore tree at Farmleigh, in Dublin's Phoenix Park, had no connection with the EU summit held there last weekend.

According to a statement from the OPW, the tree, incorrectly described last week as a 350-year-old oak, was felled on April 19, 2004 after it was discovered that it was in an advanced state of decay caused by ganderma fungus.

Large scaffold branches fell from the tree on February 3, causing some damage on the estate. The tree was investigated by an expert who advised the OPW that it could not be preserved and to prevent the risk of further damage or injury, it should be felled. A Forestry Inspector from the Department of Agriculture and Food inspected the tree and was satisfied that given its condition and decayed state, the appropriate course of action was to fell it.

It should be noted that the felling of this tree did not provide any clear view of Farmleigh House, and the felling played no part in the positioning of the media gantry which was located 25 metres away.

The Commissioners of Public Works would never condone the felling of any ancient tree of historical value on any State property in the manner suggested in last week's Sunday Independent. The suggestion that they had was deeply hurtful to the Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland, their officials and staff.

alleepally

Nice one, thanks!