Not everyone is thrilled with Irish Parachute Club activity in Offaly as skydivers return to earth on private land and public roads.
The Irish Parachute Club is operating out of a base outside Edenderry in County Offaly.
Edenderry Councillor Jim Flanagan does not share the parachutist's love for their sport and has spent the last four years trying to get their base closed down. He believes constitutional and civil rights are being impinged by the Irish Parachute Club. His objections to the club are that planes are constantly flying over local houses causing noise pollution and that parachutists coming back to earth frequently miss their base.
The Irish Parachute Club refutes these claims saying that parachutists very rarely land outside their base.
They're particularly annoyed at the councillor’s allegations that they’re landing on local roads and as such, are a danger.
Phelim Kelly of the Irish Parachute Club strongly replying to the claims made by Councillor Flanagan says that the parachutes are steerable and claims,
Nobody has landed the road to my knowledge.
Phelim Kelly also says that their flight path does not cross any houses and they only fly at weekends.
The dispute began in 1981 when Councillor Jim Flanagan got Offaly County Council to serve the Parachute Club with a notice of unauthorised development. Phelim Kelly says that the club is sensitive to the feelings of the local community and apart from a small number of complaints has only experienced overwhelming support from locals for the club.
We found the vast majority of people are in favour of having us here.
Jim Flanagan wants the planning application for the club to be reviewed.
I believe these things should be taken out to an isolated spot.
An RTÉ News reports on 7 October 1985. The reporter is Alasdair Jackson.
