A seat in memory of a local man has been vandalised in Machaire Gathlán

A seat which was erected in memory of Thomas Willie Joe Mac Giolla Bhríde has been broken into two halves. 

The seat is erected in a beautiful scenic spot overlooking the ocean in Machaire Gathlán, Gaoth Dobhair. Words from a local song were penned onto the back of the chair and the seat holds a very special place in people's hearts in the community. 

Independent Councillor Micheál Mac Giolla Easbuig said he is very angry the seat was damaged. 

"The idea is to have seats erected from Machaire Gathlán over as far as Bád Eddie so that people who walked traditionally walked the the beach for years can walk the beach and look out at the islands - islands where some of them may have come from," he said. 

There are around seven seats erected to date. Micheál Cholm said the seats will allow older people and those who have difficulty in walking long distances the joy of walking along their coast safe in the knowledge they can sit every 100 or 150 yards. 

He said: "I am absolutely furious. Somebody or a group of people decided last night to come along and vandalise this. This is the second time this has happened to a seat.

"Carole sailor and myself will be putting more up within the next few weeks. Local people sponsor these seats - people have been very good. Sabba Curran kindly paid for this one." 

He said there were plans to erect three more seats in the area adding the seats are very costly. 

"Newbridge Memorials have been more than kind in supplying the stone and engraving the stones for us. I would like to thank everyone for helping us with these seats - they mean a lot to people. People have been ringing tonight and asking to pay for a replacement for Thomas' seat," he said.    

The councillor said that people were forced to leave their homes in times gone by and that many of these people who are now older enjoy standing beside the sea and looking across at their islands. 

"These people walk along the coast and look across at the islands. Some of these people are getting older. We must lend these people a helping hand by ensuring they can walk along the coast as they have always done and look out across the sea to their island homes.

"In years to come their children will do the same thing and enjoy their connection to the islands and to the family that went before them. These seats can ensure that this can be done and we must do everything we can to help them," he said.