Sand build-up leaves Mullaghmore harbour pontoon increasingly unreachable, councillors warn

By Philip Rooney, The Sligo Champion

The issue of safe access for vessels at Mullaghmore harbour was raised by Cllr Seamus Kilgannon at the September meeting of Sligo County Council.

His motion before the meeting, which received unanimous support asked the council to examine the feasibility of extending the existing pontoon at Mullaghmore harbour and/or dredging the area surrounding the pontoon, to improve safe and practical access for vessels.

Speaking to the motion, Cllr Kilgannon remarked, “I welcome the commitment in the response to inspect the area at low spring tide and to consider dredging if required. This is a long-standing issue, and I think the Council’s own history in dealing with it gives us a good starting point for deciding what needs to happen next.

“How the pontoon is used, or its designed length is not the concern here; it’s the fact that it cannot be reached due to huge quantities of sand building up in that area.”

Outlining the issues associated with the harbour and pontoon, Cllr Kilgannon pointed out that over 20 years ago harbour improvement works were carried out at a cost of €1.27m, including the installation of the pontoon.

By 2009, Cllr Kilgannon noted, “Council records already identify shifting sand around the breakwater/pontoon and seek funding for dredging.”

Cllr Kilgannon stated that in 2011 major dredging was undertaken at an approximate cost of €110,000 but noted it, “Did not in any way fix the issue.”

In 2015 Cllr Kilgannon tabled a motion seeking an extension/additional pontoon after which the Local Authority “Agreed to carry out maintenance dredging at Mullaghmore harbour on an annual basis. This maintenance never happened because of concerns about the integrity of the pontoon itself and the brackets supporting it.”

Calling for the issue to be addressed as a matter of urgency, Cllr Kilgannon concluded by saying, “Mullaghmore is both a working harbour and a major tourism asset. We already know that sand is a recurring problem. What we need now is to establish how serious it has become and agree the works necessary to ensure the harbour remains safe, accessible and fit for the level of and variety of activity it supports.”

The motion received unanimous support with Cllr Thomas Walsh saying, “There is a high level of activity in Mullaghmore. Every second person I speak to has been on the water on ‘Kiwi Girl’. We should be making it easier to access.”

Cllr Edel McSharry also voiced her support for the motion saying, “We need to have the area dredged for safe access for vessels coming in and out of the harbour.”

Cllr Marie Casserly also voiced her support saying, “As Mullaghmore has gotten busier over the years, we should be doing everything possible to support it.”

Cllr Donal Gilroy also offered his support for the motion saying, “It is badly needed. I was in and out of the water on three different boats over the summer, it is always an issue. It is important, it is a huge tourism amenity.”

Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.