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Smoke from a gorse fire blocked out the sun in Galway earlier

There were no reports of damage.

IMG_1268 Niamh O'Toole Niamh O'Toole

A GORSE FIRE in Galway sent a massive cloud of smoke over the town of Spiddal this afternoon.

The fire was sparked near a lake earlier today, but the cause is unknown.

Locals reported the smoke rising high into the sky, blocking out the sun at one stage.

There is no reported damage to homes or property and the fire is believed to have been tackled.

Read: Firefighters tackled blazes in Dublin and Wicklow overnight

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31 Comments
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    Mute John Carey
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    Apr 20th 2015, 8:45 PM

    Connemara apologies for the disruption to services. Normal burning and poisoning has now resumed. We thank you for your patience.

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    Mute Sheik Yahbouti
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    Apr 20th 2015, 10:07 PM

    Paul, what do you mean by “no reports of damage “? This is nesting season. Further, some vixens at least now have cubs they’re trying to feed. There are many other creatures I could mention but, hey, the farmers can have some illusiory gain so everything is just dandy. When will something of substance be done about this annual massacre? Domestic cats are being blamed for the disappearance of songbirds – they must be some humongous cats.

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    Mute Denise Daly
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    Apr 20th 2015, 8:56 PM

    What ignorant and stupid commentary and attempt at humour on here. This puts me off reading the comments section of an article on the Journal.

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    Mute potty o shea
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:05 PM

    And the more ignorant the comment the more green thumbs it gets!

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    Mute Denise Daly
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:08 PM

    Exactly Potty, there’s worthless comments posted so I’ll just read the article and no further.

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    Mute Hermes
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:26 PM

    commenting on comments is the best fun …….

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    Mute little jim
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:30 PM

    You’re definitely doing the journal wrong.

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    Mute jenni
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:44 PM

    Denise.. Be careful of what you say, that kind of comment is likely to have you accused,allegedly , of starting a Bbq, and letting the sausages burn.

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    Mute potty o shea
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:44 PM

    And everyone is an expert!

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    Mute Cupid Stunt
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    Apr 20th 2015, 8:24 PM

    Tis a sign, a harbinger of ill will.an omen for Ireland of times ahead.

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    Mute Hermes
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:27 PM

    an excellent reference to the prophecies of colmcille and the holy fires burning again …..
    you must be very well read …

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    Mute mcgoo
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:40 PM

    Controlled fires, at the right time of the year, can form part of good land management practices

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    Mute Ross Stewart
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    Apr 21st 2015, 3:14 AM

    Not in Ireland though

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    Mute Tony Le Blanc
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    Apr 21st 2015, 3:00 PM

    So McGoo, the exact opposite of what’s been happening in Ireland then?

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    Ron
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    Mute Ron
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    Apr 20th 2015, 8:14 PM

    You whin some, you lose some…

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    Mute Sacha Mahady
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    Apr 20th 2015, 8:14 PM

    Down with that sort of thing

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    Mute Marc Walsh
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    Apr 20th 2015, 8:39 PM

    What the hell is a Gorse

    13
    Sam
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    Mute Sam
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    Apr 20th 2015, 8:46 PM

    I think it’s used to describe the locals

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    Mute Hermes
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:29 PM

    It’s as far as I rmeber the thorny bush that produces bright yellow flowers – it is an extremely invasive plant and very difficult to contain in an agricultural context ….
    people in galway also call it FURZE as far as I know …

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    Mute JustAoife
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:48 PM

    And it smells like coconuts

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    Mute Sean O'Reilly
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    Apr 20th 2015, 9:58 PM

    Or sun tan lotion, coconut oil

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    Mute P O Leary.
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    Apr 20th 2015, 10:23 PM

    Also known as whins in some parts of the country.

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    Mute George Salter
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    Apr 21st 2015, 1:48 PM

    Whins is the planter name. There you go.

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    Mute Seamus Brady
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    Apr 21st 2015, 2:21 AM

    At long last people from
    spiddal won’t have to go to the big smoke. It’s doing a tour of the west

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    Mute Car K Stanley
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    Apr 21st 2015, 9:12 AM

    The fact that the Journal reports no damage in their sub headline shows the disregard for natures wildlife, the laws and breeding season , of course there was damage how could there not have been damage !!

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    Mute Pete Gibson
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    Apr 21st 2015, 6:59 AM

    Gorse has been deliberately burned off in hilly areas of Europe for centuries in order to keep it in check and to facilitate sheep grazing.
    This seems to have stopped completely in Ireland.
    This only makes for a bigger and far more dangerous fire when it eventually “goes up”.
    Several villages in the west are practically surrounded by the stuff (Clifden for instance)

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    Mute Gearoid Libertas
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    Apr 21st 2015, 1:13 AM

    Let’s not jump to conclusions and blame a section of thick farmers. Outside of this fire the many others throughout the country may also not have be caused by thick farmers

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    Mute Ivon Itchie Saq
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    Apr 20th 2015, 8:31 PM

    Oh holy god!

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