Connacht Tribune
Galway County Council called on to tackle ragwort
A ragwort ‘epidemic’ on the roadsides of County Galway – and in some farmers’ fields too – requires urgent attention, with the County Council needing to play the lead role, a farm leader has urged.
Galway IFA Chairperson, Anne Mitchell, said that ragwort was a noxious and poisonous weed for animals that needed to be controlled and removed from roadsides and fields.
“It is a weed that spreads prolifically but it is one that can be contained by a number of factors, such as simply pulling it up out of the ground; by spraying; or by cultivation.
“I would have to say that the vast majority of farmers do everything to ensure that this weed is dealt with on their farms but there are cases where land has fallen into neglect, for one reason or another, and ragwort is not controlled,” she said.
However, she added, that the County Council had to take a far more pro-active role in dealing with the spread of weeds such as ragwort, dock and thistle on untended roadside verges across the length and breadth of Galway.
“If weeds such as ragwort are left unchecked on roadside verges it will follow on that the seeds will spread into adjoining farmers’ fields. It just isn’t good enough that these verges are just let grow wild with weeds every Summer,” she said.
According to the Department of Agriculture, each ragwort plant has the capacity to produce 50,000 to 200,000 seeds over a six weeks period from July to September each year – seeds that can be dispersed by wind, water, animals, hay and farm machinery.
Under the Noxious Weeds Act of 1936, it is an offence for the owner/occupier of lands not to prevent the growth and spread of noxious weeds including ragwort, thistle, dock and wild oat.
Technically, landowners or local authorities who allow noxious weeds to go uncontrolled, are liable to prosecution – and a small fine if the case is proven – but over recent years there has been no record of any such cases proceeding.
The farm advisory body Teagasc, point out that ragwort is poisonous to animals in both the green and preserved state (and after spraying too) and has been responsible for ‘many farm fatalities’ in cattle.
Teagasc also point out that any control strategy for the weed must be based on the biennial (over a two-year cycle) growth pattern of the plant – a rosette in the first year and then going into full flower during the second year of growth.
They also point out, that where small numbers of ragwort are present, they can be effectively dealt with by simply pulling or digging up the plant. [They are not a deep-rooted plant like the dock and pull up quite easily from the ground especially in dampish conditions].
For larger numbers, Teagasc advise that sprays such as MCPA, 2, 4-D, Dicamba, Thrust and Forefront provide good control but caution that measures must be taken to avoid stock eating any dying or dead ragwort present which is still highly poisonous after spraying has taken place.
Minister of State for Rural Affairs and Galway East TD Seán Canney said that the humid weather had led to the proliferation of ragwort on roadside.
“Farmers have to be particularly vigilant because ragwort can kill cattle and horses if it is ingested.
“It is also toxic for people and can cause allergic reactions if it is absorbed through the skin.
“People should wear protective waterproof gardening gloves when handling ragwort plants and arms and legs should be covered. Face masks should also be worn to avoid inhaling the weed’s pollen which can cause hay fever.
“Local authorities and Transport Infrastructure Ireland are responsible for the removal of weeds from main roads and motorways. Farmers also have the responsibility to ensure their lands are ragwort free,” said Minister Canney.
Significant state investment is required to address ‘shocking’ inequalities that leave cancer patients in the West at greater risk of succumbing to the disease.
A meeting of Regional Health Forum West heard that survival rates for breast, lung and colorectal cancers than the national average, and with the most deprived quintile of the population, the West’s residents faced poorer outcomes from a cancer diagnosis.
For breast cancer patients, the five-year survival rate was 80% in the West versus 85% nationally; for lung cancer patients it was 16.7% in the west against a 19.5% national survival rate; and in the West’s colorectal cancer patients, there was a 62.6% survival rate where the national average was 63.1%.
These startling statistics were provided in answer to a question from Ballinasloe-based Cllr Evelyn Parsons (Ind) who said it was yet another reminder that cancer treatment infrastructure in the West was in dire need of improvement.
“The situation is pretty stark. In the Western Regional Health Forum area, we have the highest incidence of deprivation and the highest health inequalities because of that – we have the highest incidences of cancer nationally because of that,” said Cllr Parsons, who is also a general practitioner.
In details provided by CEO of Saolta Health Care Group, which operates Galway’s hospitals, it was stated that a number of factors were impacting on patient outcomes.
Get the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.
Galway 3-18
Cork 1-10
NEW setting; new opposition; new challenge. It made no difference to the Galway minor hurlers as they chalked up a remarkable sixth consecutive double digits championship victory at Semple Stadium on Saturday.
The final scoreline in Thurles may have been a little harsh on Cork, but there was no doubting Galway’s overall superiority in setting up only a second-ever All-Ireland showdown against Clare at the same venue on Sunday week.
Having claimed an historic Leinster title the previous weekend, Galway took a while to get going against the Rebels and also endured their first period in a match in which they were heavily outscored, but still the boys in maroon roll on.
Beating a decent Cork outfit by 14 points sums up how formidable Galway are. No team has managed to lay a glove on them so far, and though Clare might ask them questions other challengers haven’t, they are going to have to find significant improvement on their semi-final win over 14-man Kilkenny to pull off a final upset.
Galway just aren’t winning their matches; they are overpowering the teams which have stood in their way. Their level of consistency is admirable for young players starting off on the inter-county journey, while the team’s temperament appears to be bombproof, no matter what is thrown at them.
Having romped through Leinster, Galway should have been a bit rattled by being only level (0-4 each) after 20 minutes and being a little fortunate not to have been behind; or when Cork stormed out of the blocks at the start of the second half by hitting 1-4 to just a solitary point in reply, but there was never any trace of panic in their ranks.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
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GARDAÍ and the IFA have issued a joint appeal to all road users to take extra care as the silage season gets under way across the country.
Silage harvesting started in many parts of Galway last week – and over the coming month, the sight of tractors and trailers on rural roads will be getting far more frequent.
Inspector Conor Madden, who is in charge of Galway Roads Policing, told the Farming Tribune that a bit of extra care and common-sense from all road users would go a long way towards preventing serious collisions on roads this summer.
“One thing I would ask farmers and contractors to consider is to try and get more experienced drivers working for them.
“Tractors have got faster and bigger – and they are also towing heavy loads of silage – so care and experience are a great help in terms of accident prevention,” Inspector Madden told the Farming Tribune.
He said that tractor drivers should always be aware of traffic building up behind them and to pull in and let these vehicles pass, where it was safe to do so.
“By the same token, other road users should always exercise extra care; drive that bit slower; and ‘pull in’ that bit more, when meeting tractors and heavy machinery.
“We all want to see everyone enjoying a safe summer on our roads – that extra bit of care, and consideration for other roads users can make a huge difference,” said Conor Madden.
He also advised motorists and tractor drivers to be acutely aware of pedestrians and cyclists on the roads during the summer season when more people would be out walking and cycling on the roads.
The IFA has also joined in on the road safety appeal with Galway IFA Farm Family and Social Affairs Chair Teresa Roche asking all road users to exercise that extra bit of care and caution.
“We are renewing our annual appeal for motorists to be on the look out for tractors, trailers and other agricultural machinery exiting from fields and farmyards,” she said.
For more, read this week’s Connacht Tribune.
Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App
Download the Connacht Tribune Digital Edition App to access to Galway’s best-selling newspaper.
Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Or purchase the Digital Edition for PC, Mac or Laptop from Pagesuite HERE.
Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.
Families queue up for school’s offer of free house
West has lower cancer survival rates than rest
Galway minors continue to lay waste to all opponents
Gardaí and IFA issue a joint appeal on summer road safety
Marathon Man plans to call a halt – but not before he hits 160 races
