Sinkholes force Gaelic football club out of home
- Published
Sinkholes close Gaelic football grounds
A Gaelic football club whose grounds were ripped apart by several sinkholes has said it will have to look for an alternative home.
Magheracloone Mitchells GAA's chairman Francis Jones said the complex in County Monaghan was "a non-runner".
The sinkholes are thought to have been caused by the partial collapse of a disused mine.
The mine's owner said it was investigating the subsidence with the help of geologists.
Risk assessment
Gyproc, which mines gypsum for the manufacture of plasterboard, said it was also assessing five properties near the football ground to see if they had been impacted.
In a statement, Monaghan County Council said two crown holes approximately eight metres wide had developed at the site due to "depression" in the land.
The company said the area in which the subsidence occurred was the Drumgossatt mine.
It added that the area of subsidence was confined to a 120m (393 ft) radius and areas outside it were unaffected.
Gyproc operates a mine at Drummond.
Monaghan County Council said a team was on site carrying out a risk assessment.
A meeting involving Irish police, the council and mining company Gyproc, took place on Tuesday afternoon.
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The sinkholes appeared overnight on Sunday, causing huge fissures in the pitches and large cracks in the clubhouse.
Drumgossatt National School in Carrickmacross was evacuated but has since re-opened.
No-one was injured when the land collapsed
The whole ground was affected, Mr Jones told BBC Radio Ulster on Tuesday.
"All our pitches have been affected and the buildings are cracked," he said.
"We're not sure what caused it, or what happens now, but we're glad no-one was hurt."
The exclusion zone is still in place and part of the main road between Carrickmacross and Kingscourt remains closed, with traffic being diverted via Shercock.
Magheracloone Mitchells' clubhouse and surrounding area have been closed off
Gyproc said it is liaising with those living in the area and will work with local authorities to discuss reopening roads.
"Our main priority is the safety of local residents, our employees and ensuring no significant environmental impact," the company added.
What is a sinkhole?
Sinkholes form when rainwater comes into contact with a certain type of soft rock - such as chalk or limestone - and dissolves it.
Typically rainfall seeps through the soil, absorbing carbon dioxide and reacting with decaying vegetation. As a result, the water that reaches the soluble rock is acidic.
The acidic water causes the erosion of the soluble rock layers beneath the surface - eventually creating cavernous spaces.
The land above collapses into the cavity when it can no longer be supported.
Sinkholes can range in size enormously and there are warning signs in urban areas - such as doors and windows failing to close properly, or cracks appearing in the foundations of houses.
- Published2 October 2015
