With calving season about to begin, and the island's flock of 700 sheep due to lamb, the sudden decision to temporarily shut the cable car service has come as a terrible blow
And like the island's seven other farmers, while born on Dursey, he now lives on the mainland travelling daily on the cable car to feed his lifestock.
And delaying the closure date was not possible because the cable car would not be structurally certified from 1 April, the council said.But what has caused real anger is the confirmation that the local authority will not be funding a temporary ferry - provided in the past when general maintenance work was undertaken albeit for a shorter time.
"This is going to be an animal welfare issue. I have to be here to feed them. Our land here on the island is old. It takes a long time in the spring for the land to come around. James Harrington, one of the island's two permanent residents, is at a loss too. He travels weekly to the mainland to do his shopping. Asked what he was going to do, Mr. Harrington said he did not know.
In a statement to RTÉ, the Minister for Rural and Community Development Heather Humphreys said she was disappointed with the decision to withdrawn the cable car without any prior consultation.The Minister said the council is responsible for ensuring mainland connectivity for the island residents and farmers.
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