Interview with Fergal who had just returned from a weekend trip to Rossport and who puts the events of the last week in the context of the struggle of the last years. read full story / add a comment

The Rossport Solidarity Camp was originally set up on ‘Rossport 5’ Philip McGrath’s land in 2005. In the Spring of 2006 the camp was set up again close to the beach at Glengad near the ‘landfall’ for Shell’s proposed pipeline. Following a mendacious but successful application by Mayo County Council for an order of eviction against the camp in September of 2007, the camp agreed to leave the dunes by January 1st 2008. Since then the 'camp' has organised from the Rossport Solidarity House in Pollathomas.

On Saturday 16th August 2008 the camp was set up afresh for the purposes of reorganising Shell to Sea resistance to Shell's latest plans to construct its offshore section of the pipeline from Glengad out to the Corrib Gas Field. A number of actions against that work have already taken place and local, national and international supporters are returning to the area to continue the fight.

As one supporter put it, "If there was ever a time to come to Mayo, this is it". read full story / add a comment

This morning at 10am, 15 Shell to Sea activists entered the water at Glengad Beach to stop Shell pipeline excavation work. Dinghies, surfers and swimmers surrounded the machine and stopped the work by their presence in the water.

3 members of the Garda water unit then began picking people out of the boats and the water and bringing the protestors into the Shell compound where other Gardaí conveyed them then to Belmullet Garda station. Gardaí were questioned by activists, asked to identify themselves and give reasons why they were pulling people from the water. Gardaí were questioned as to what authority they had to give directions or use force against protesters in the water. They refused to account for themselves. “Public Order Act” shouted one very aggressive Garda.
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A number of protesters have been arrested in Mayo resisting Shell contractors who have been trying to install pipeline infrastructure on Glengad beach.

Five people were reportedly arrested this morning and another three this afternoon.

It is unclear whether all those arrested have been charged under the Public Order Act or have simply been detained.

Shell has been working on the beach, which is a Special Area of Conservation, under a foreshore licence granted by Minister Mary Coughlan and permissions from Minister Eamon Ryan, even though they have yet to receive planning permission for the onshore section of their proposed pipeline. read full story / add a comment

Yesterday at 1pm, 3 kayakers paddled out from close by to Killybegs Harbour to deliver a letter from Shell to Sea to Captain Van Der Plicht on the Solitaire, the biggest pipe laying ship in the world. read full story / add a comment

Today (Saturday) at noon a flotilla of sea kayaks reclaimed Glengad beach, Pollathomas, Co Mayo; the landfall site for Shell’s offshore pipeline.

Members of the ‘Great Rebel Raft Regatta’ recently deployed at the E.ON coal fired power station at Kingsnorth in Kent, England, have made their way from Climate Camp UK to Erris, in order to assist Shell to Sea campaigners in their opposition to this pipeline construction at Glengad.

The first wave of the Rebel Regatta arrived today following Marine & Public Information Notices which announced the arrival of the world’s largest pipe-laying vessel, the Solitaire, in Broadhaven Bay, anytime from today onwards.

Captain Ahab of the Rebel Crew states, “It’s unacceptable what Shell are being allowed to get away with here in Mayo. We intend to plunder Shell’s compound at Glengad and board the Solitaire when she arrives in the bay. We take no prisoners. It’s the gang-plank for these boys. This environment needs protection from these marauders of Shell’s.”

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The so-called "Corrib Armada" may be heading for the same fate as the Spanish original, as several Shell-hired vessels have entered the troubled waters of the ongoing Corrib gas saga. read full story / add a comment

During the next 2 weeks, the Solitaire (the biggest pipe laying ship in the world) is set to begin illegally constructing the offshore section of the pipeline. It is believed that the Solitaire is on a pretty tight schedule & booked up for the next 2 years, so ANY disruption provides us with a real opportunity to delay the project significantly. read full story / add a comment

It's been reported that the gardaí have spent 11,000,000 euro on policing the protests against the Shell scheme to install a production pipeline and refinery in Kilcommon County Mayo.

The amount is more than half of what is being spent on fighting organised crime (€20M) and the Irish Independent newspaper reports that Garda sources are concerned that policing the protests is draining overtime budgets.

In May this year the Garda Siochana Ombudsman Commission recommended that there should be a general review of the way public protests are policed, in the light of more than 70 complaints received about the Corrib protests. GSOC wrote to Minister for Justice proposing that it carry out an examination of management of crowd protests and civil disobedience. However, the minister turned down the proposal, as he “did not feel that it was appropriate at that time”.
http://www.corribsos.com/index.php?id=1774 read full story / add a comment

Published: 29 July, 2008

Sinn Féin Environment and Natural Resources Spokesperson Martin Ferris TD has severely criticised a decision by the Department of the Environment to grant planning permission without approval from An Bord Pleanála to Shell E&P Limited for a key section of the Corrib onshore pipeline at Glengad in County Mayo.

Planning permission was granted via the controversial Strategic Infrastructure Act.

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The latest from Glengad beach, were Shell have occupied a section of the beach and fenced it off from the local community read full story / add a comment

A school of curious dolphins were attacked yesterday lunchtime by a vessel supporting Shell's offshore pipeline works in Broadhaven Bay at Glengad. The Niamh Aine - a pleasure boat hired to escort various work vessels around the area - drove across the path of two of the dolphins who were inspecting the Vlaanderen VII barge. read full story / add a comment

This morning at approximately 8:00am over 40 gardaí, who are now stationed in the Shell compound, and 70 Shell specialist security forced the local community from a section of Glengad beach so that Shell could erect 10ft high fencing about 40ft down onto the beach. read full story / add a comment

In Glengad, today 13 people were arrested when they confronted Shell over digging in a Special Area of Conservation read full story / add a comment

News comming in of 10 to 12 arrests in Glengad

including Willie Corduff read full story / add a comment

I write this letter to you the Fishermen of Erris, to your association, and to you all as individuals, and as men, in the light of Shell ‘intransigence‘, as you put it, and the arrival of Shell’s pipe-laying ship ‘the Solitaire’ off our shores.

It seems Shell have hit a right nerve with you guys and you’re very correct to be reacting with the defiance you’re adopting … again and at this time.

I’m sure you’re considering certain legal action to protect your fishing rights in Broadhaven Bay and beyond, and very good grounds indeed you have to do that, and succeed. But I wouldn’t be relying on that alone, if things don’t work out like!

If the law makers are making laws for Shell and Shell only, those ‘laws’ should be disobeyed in any case.

And we’re all well very aware of some of the bold and important stances you’ve already taken in the part you play in the hard fight against Shell and the Irish Government for the protection of Erris, it’s families, communities and it’s environment on and off shore. read full story / add a comment

Summary of yesterdays protest held by Erris Inshore Fishermen's Association (EIFA) read full story / add a comment

Mayo County Coucil are currently "widening" and strengthen an 8km road from the Bellanaboy refinery to the proposed landfall area in Glengad. read full story / add a comment

Shell are starting the dredging operation to begin laying the offshore part of the production pipeline to pump the raw gas from the Corrib field to their installation at Bellanaboy. The project has been criticised for separating the planning aspects of the offshore pipeline from the nine kilometres of onshore production pipeline which they want to cross the bog landscape and special areas of conservation around Rossport, county Mayo.

The company have not got planning permission for route of the onshore pipeline, but are pressing ahead with the offshore pipe.

Natural Resaources Minister Eamon Ryan, who once supported the local community in their fight against Shell's scheme, has made no statement in reaction to the Department of Transport's announcement (below). read full story / add a comment

Shell to Sea is currently drawing persistent attention to the flouting of EU/ Irish law in relation to the Wildlife Act of 1985 amended in 1995. It received statutory significance through its signing by the then, Minister for Arts, Culture and the Gaeltacht, Michael D Higgins read full story / add a comment