Action demanded as dumping crisis worsens in housing estate

Persistent illegal dumping at the Gleann Ard Estate in Ballaghaderreen has sparked growing anger with local RSPCA volunteers saying the situation has reached breaking point.

The estate has become a hotspot for everything from food waste and soiled nappies to abandoned furniture, bicycles, and even the remains of a kitten.

Local RSPCA volunteer Karen Carton, from Lisacul, described the conditions as an “absolute disgrace”, saying the volume of waste has created an unsafe and unhealthy environment for both residents and the 20 stray cats she and fellow volunteer Liz White have been caring for since September.

Adding to the estate’s problems is an ongoing sewage overflow, which Ms Carton said has been an issue since before Christmas. Many empty houses have also been vandalised, stripped internally, and turned into hubs for antisocial behaviour.

“You open a door and you can’t see the stairs because the rubbish is piled right up,” Ms Carton said. “Somebody is constantly fly tipping. It’s relentless.” 

The RSPCA volunteers initially faced hostility from a small number of residents when they first arrived to help the stray cats, but tensions eased once the community understood their work.

Local frustration is now firmly directed at the persistent waste problems and the lack of meaningful progress in cleaning up the estate. 

The RSPCA volunteers are urging Roscommon County Council to step in and put an end to the ongoing environmental and health hazards.