Rats invasion forces cancellation of Galway lighthouse tours

Rats have taken over Mutton Island in Galway Bay, forcing the cancellation of heritage tours of the city’s famous lighthouse.

The city’s Heritage Officer, Jim Higgins was due to give tours of Mutton Island Lighthouse Heritage Centre yesterday (Monday) but they were cancelled for health and safety reasons arising from a rat infestation.

The Connacht Sentinel has learned that the rat infestation was reported to Galway City Council by a member of the public and the visits were called-off late last week.

“It was a safety issue. The island is apparently full of rats. If a member of the public was bitten by a rat then the City Council would be liable – sure it just couldn’t take the risk,” a source said.

He added: “It is located in a special area of conservation meaning that you can’t just put rat poison down. It’s complicated because rat poison could impact on birds and other wildlife. We are told that there’s supposed to be mink living out there as well but mink will kill anything so how the rats are surviving side by side with the mink is beyond me. It’s a pity that the walk was cancelled.”

The two tours scheduled for yesterday morning were part of Heritage Week, and several people had booked in advance to take part.

It is one of the few times every year in which members of the public are invited to view the Mutton Island Lighthouse, which is one of Galway’s iconic buildings.

Read more in this week’s Connacht Sentinel