Locals in the area where the ghost ship MV Alta washed ashore nearly three years ago say their lives have been changed for the worse by the wreck’s presence on their doorstep.
Speaking to The Journal for a special feature, the residents of Ballyandreen Bay near Ballycotton in East Cork describe a locale ill prepared for the influx of visitors drawn by the wreck, which washed ashore in February 2020, with their impact including a devastating cliffside fire that threatened local homes.
Other residents have complained of damage to crops and fences that has endangered their livestock, and of alleged looting of farm equipment, impacting severely on their livelihoods
One farmer, Liam Morrison, spoke of the shock of finding “thousands” of people on his field — and the abuse he claims he received from some visitrs.
“We had no problem for many years and I welcome the tourists. They didn’t go across the crops and they didn’t do any damage. But these people [drawn by the MV Alta] had no respect for anything — it changed my attitude towards people,” he said.
The Journal has much more on the story HERE.