Mixed reaction as Wexford council presents plans to protect small coastal community – ‘if your home is at risk you’re living in fear’

By Simon Bourke, Wexford People

Having waited over a decade to secure funding for coastal protection works at Cahore, Wexford County Council (WCC) has tentatively presented its plans to those living in the area with mixed results. Reflecting on the public meeting in Ballygarrett GAA Club, environmental engineer Enda Brennan said the some 50 people in attendance had a variety of questions and fears regarding the installation of 190 metres of rock armour along the coast of the north Wexford beach.

“People had questions regarding the height of the armour and whether it could be extended further down,” said Mr Brennan. “We explained there’s a limited budget from the Office of Public Works (OPW), that this was our third application for funding, and that we’ve finally got approval to do it.

"They also asked if we could re-use the existing rock armour that had previously been installed, if we could get a machine and dig out the existing rock that’s under the sand.”

Using that existing rock to further strengthen the coast is within the remit of WCC, but with some limitations.

“We can get a price on how much that would cost to do,” said Mr Brennan. “The sunken rock is there and we have to pick it up anyway. But any rocks outside the scope of these works may require further funding (to dig out).”

Mr Brennan was speaking at the December meeting of the Gorey Kilmuckridge Municipal District (GKMD) where some of those present had also attended the public meeting in Ballygarrett.

“There were conflicting views, some people wanted three metres of rocks others wanted six, many of those in attendance didn’t understand the plans, didn’t know how to read them,” said Councillor Mary Farrell. “They felt the plans should have been more accessible for the lay person. They have asked for 3D drawings. At the next consultation we need to provide more clarity for people.”

Cllr Farrell also noted that there was a certain degree of tension at the meeting, something she felt was understandable given the circumstances.

“Some people think WCC is more concerned with protecting the car park than the houses. But we have to realise that if your home is at risk you’re living in fear.”

Cllr Pip Breen had attended the meeting too and said that some of the loudest voices came from those who weren’t directly impacted by the works.

“There’s 12 houses impacted by this and I spoke to residents from each of them, yet they weren’t the most vocal people in the room,” he said. “People said it shouldn’t go ahead as it’ll change the character of Cahore, but if the sea comes in it’ll make it an island and make it almost impossible to remedy.”

Having campaigned for these works since 2014 – during which time the coast has eroded by approximately 50 metres in Cahore – Cllr Breen said there was potential to extend the rock armour further along the coast once these works were complete but that it was important to utilise the available funding as a matter of priority.

“There’s hundreds of places along our coast which could do with that money,” he said.

A second public consultation on the coastal protection works in Cahore is expected to take place in the coming months. The construction of the rock armour is scheduled for Easter of this year.