This article is from page 8 of the 2006-03-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
THE woman at the centre of the ‘Ennis pigeon war’ has hit back at the objectors to her pigeon loft, claiming that they have a “personal vendetta” and are “clutching at straws”.
Last week, Ennis Town Council deferred making a decision on the application by May Guilfoyle to install a pigeon loft at her home at 24 Marian Avenue, pointing out that there appeared to be some discrepancy in the drawings submitted.
The application by Mrs Guilfoyle is the source of a bitter dispute, which threatens plans by her son, George Guilfoyle to continue housing 30 racing pigeons at the house.
Their next door neighbours, John and Mary Flynn have told Ennis Town Council that they now regard themselves as “being prisoners in their own home” due to the presence of the pigeons. Solicitors have become embroiled in the dispute ,
The Guilfoyle’s is the only Clare loft ever to come away with a national title, while a number of Mr Guilfoyle’s pigeons have secured numerous runners-up titles. Marian Avenue Residents’ Association have lodged a letter and petition supporting the Guilfoyles.
In their objection, the Flynns stated that they were not aware of the existence of the Residents’ Association.
However, in a rebuttal letter lodged with the council, Mrs Guilfoyle stated, “We are very surprised, in fact, appalled, to hear that Mr and Mrs Flynn have never heard of the Marian Avenue Residents’ Association. One would anticipate that having lived in a closely knit community for 20 years that Mr and Mrs Flynn would be at the very least be aware of the existence of a residents’ association
Mrs Guilfoyle stated, “Photographic evidence can show that pigeons have been kept at 24 Marian Avenue prior to 1985 and Mr and Mrs Flynn bought their house knowing that pigeons were being kept there . . . Therefore, it would appear that perhaps there is another motive to objecting to the planning application and we would politely suggest that in our opinion, the objection is one of a personal nature rather than that of noise, nuisance or dirt.”
Mrs Guilfoyle also refutes a claim from the Flynns that they counted 64 pigeons in the Guilfoyle loft, stating “ . . . we like to keep on average 30 pigeons in the shed. As there is another pigeon loft next door, one wonders whose pigeons Mrs Flynn was counting.”
A decision is due on the application next month.