Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk repairs funding top of council chief’s agenda as taskforce meeting looms

By Hugh O'Farrell Walsh, The Wicklow People

The chief executive of Wicklow County Council will be looking for definitive answers at the next meeting of the Bray to Greystones Cliff Walk Taskforce, particularly around the area of funding.

Emer O’Gorman told district councillors in Greystones during the council’s November monthly meeting that the group will convene at 4pm on November 25 in Government Buildings to get an update on where things stand.

At the taskforce meeting, the bill for the works needed on site will be presented by the Ms O’Gorman to Tánaiste Simon Harris, who established the taskforce shortly before last year’s general election to find solutions on how the amenity could be reopened safely.

An engineering report, published in September 2025 highlighted short term measures that could be taken that would allow for an early reopening of the walk, which included spraying concrete on the rock face and cladding it with wire, and, on the Greystones side, moving the path up to five metres inland at the point of the slippage.

The walk has been closed since early 2021 when the route was deemed unsafe following a series of landslides and rockfalls in the area. The route was a popular attraction for both tourists and residents and at its peak attracted more than 300,000 visitors each year.

Speaking during the meeting Cllr Joe Behan said it was crucial that tangible solutions are proposed at the upcoming meeting.

“I attended, as quite a few members did, a meeting in Greystones recently where there was huge annoyance expressed about what is perceived to be the lack of action by this Council in dealing with this issue, not just recently but over the last number of years. This is a golden opportunity.

“We need to be sure that we are going in looking for sufficient money that we will be able to get this walk open as soon as possible.”

“I think the people are expecting us to do that.” he added.

Adding her voice to the conversation, Cllr Lousie Fenlon Gaskin said the protracted closure is having a negative impact on local businesses.

“Before the task force meeting, to make sure that it is productive, please make sure that the relevant reports and everything are sent well in advance.”

“Obviously we want to see results coming back on it to make it worthwhile and that we can all move forward.” she said.

In response Ms O’Gorman said she will be pushing for answers.

“I told the Tánaiste that when we met again, I would be looking for a funding package, that's what I would be expecting. To be fair to the team in Greystones, the RPS consultants work has been done, it's been presented to the chamber and Cliff Walk Management Committee, and it has looked for input on what is seen as the most feasible route forward. That's been costed up. I intend to present that package to the Tánaiste and ask where we are getting the funding from."

Ms O’Gorman says everyone wants to see the walk reopened as soon as possible.

“It must be done in a way that is long-term sustainable. I do appreciate the impact it is having on both business communities either side of the Cliff Walk, and we are conscious we need to get it open.”

Meanwhile director of services Jackie Carroll said costings for the project are being finalised.

“The Bray and Greystones members have submitted the preferred options for remediation of the Cliff Walk route. We are currently costing those remediations.

“Primarily on the Bray side it is the remediation of slopes, primarily on the Greystones side it is the rerouting of the walk. It'll be a conservative estimate because we must bear in mind that we are talking about individual property rights and landowners on the Greystones side and looking at the options for the spraying and the netting on the slopes of the Bray side.”

Ms Carroll says some of the costings will be difficult to fully determine.

“Some of the costs are going to be hard to anticipate bearing in mind that they're relating to tracts of land that we are going to have to purchase and negotiate that purchase with landowners, and also the fencing and remediation of areas of the walks as well.” she added.

Drawing the conversation to a close Cllr Tom Fortune said it was important to find out who is going to oversee making the project happen and confirm the relevant timelines.

“There is an expectation especially, on the south side of the walk, and I'm sure on the Bray side as well, that it could be open by next St Patrick's Day.

“That's the kind of pressure that is on locally.

“We need to know how real that is. On the Greystones side there's also a strong view that there's about 300 metres of the walk that just needs moving in.

“Once and for all we need to establish that so we're not having meeting after meeting and getting nowhere.”

“In other words, there's a solution to what is going on rather than a whole lot of talk. So that'd be important.” he added.