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PARISH PUMP REMOVED IN CASTLELYONS: Tadhg O’Donovan pictured with locals close to Glenview Stud in Castlelyons where the 100 year old water pump was located – Cork County Council workers removed the historical pump for reasons unknown. Photo: John Ahern

A century old roadside water pump in Castlelyons has been removed. We know with some certainty it was taken by local authority workers but no satisfactory answer is forthcoming as to why.

While many similar pumps have been decommissioned over the years, the Castlelyons pump which was located a short distance from Glenview Stud on the Castlelyons to Conna road, worked perfectly and proved a useful back up for locals during emergencies.

Following inquires by former Fermoy town councillor, Tadhg O'Donovan, the Labour Party activist was informed that the pump was removed by Cork County Council employees on the instructions of Irish Water, which sounded plausible, until Irish Water denied having any role in the pump's removal.

Having met with angry parishioners, Tadhg was left in no doubt about the strength of feeling on the issue.

"These residents are understandably angry at what has happened and once again it's another public relations disaster for the local authority who are in theory there to serve the public. Sometimes you have to seriously question the motivation behind these kinds of actions, the lack of public consultation is quite staggering and the difficulty members of the public are having trying to establish why this pump disappeared is depressing" Tadhg told The Avondhu.

Having liaised with sitting councillor Noel McCarthy, it was agreed that a motion seeking a full and detailed explanation of why the pump was removed be put before the next meeting of the Fermoy Area Municipal District - those living close to the pump intend campaigning for it to be re-instated. One of these individuals, 78-year-old Eily Whelan, a former hospital worker, said the pump should never have been interfered with.

"This pump has been around longer than I have and it served a number of houses including, Smith's, Galvin's, McNamara's and Hannie Murphy's in times past, it was a historical feature and should never have been taken away" Eily said.

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