Progress made on emergency repair works to fix structural damage at Roonagh Pier
Emergency repair works at Roonagh Pier in County Mayo have progressed after the council issued a request for tenders.
The pier has suffered severe structural damage and is in urgent need of repair. The situation worsened in October last year when significant erosion caused part of the structure to split in two.
The outer section of the pier has been closed since, as a precautionary measure due to the damage sustained by the underwater structures.
Roonagh Pier serves as the mainland hub for daily ferry services to and from Clare Island and Inishturk, which together are home to around 200 people.
The planned works will ensure safe and continued access for the island communities to and from the mainland.
It is hoped that work will begin in September and be completed over eight months, with a projected finish in April 2027, just ahead of next year’s tourism season.
Both islands off the Mayo coast are popular tourist destinations, with local businesses, transport services, and the wider economy heavily reliant on tourism income.
The repairs will also help to support the sector and ensure continued access for visitors travelling to the islands.
The tender request outlines a range of proposed works, including repairs and upgrades to elements of the pier structure, to the access steps for ferry berthing, and to the berthing face.
This includes driving piling through the existing pier structure and into solid bedrock below the structure, and the provision of a in situ reinforced concrete deck overlay slab across the full pier.
Additional works include the provision of new pier furniture, bollards, ladders, rings and the upgrade of general signage, services, power, water and public lighting
Minister for Rural and Community Development and the Gaeltacht Dara Calleary TD welcomed the publication of the tender request.
In November last year, his department committed €157,000 to prepare a preliminary business case for the essential redevelopment of the pier.
Surveys were subsequently carried out by consultant engineers on behalf of Mayo County Council to assess the extent of the damage and identify what emergency works would need to be completed to strengthen and protect the pier.
“My Department is supporting Mayo County Council and working closely with local stakeholders, including ferry operators and the island communities, to ensure access is maintained at all times and that the emergency repair works are carried out without delay,” he said.
This article has been funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.