Tag Archives: storm damage

Work to replace a West Clare bridge destroyed during flooding late last year has been completed. Located close to Doolough Water Treatment Plant at Cloonlaheen, Creevagh Bridge is located along the L62642-01 over the Annageeragh River. The original structure was demolished by floodwaters in December 2015. Five households were affected by the subsequent road closure. Before construction work commenced in early summer 2016, the Road Design Office of Clare County Council carried out a topographical survey and site investigation. An Appropriate Assessment screening was also undertaken to determine the potential for significant impacts of the work on the natural environment, while the Road Design Office obtained the necessary licences from Inland Fisheries Ireland and the Office of Public Works (OPW). In recent months, new culverts and wingwalls were installed and new blockwork and dry stone boundary walls were reconstructed to match the destroyed bridge. The existing local road has been realigned and reconstructed over a length of 40 metres. The …

An IFA delegation, led by President Eddie Downey and Clare chairman, Andrew Dundas, met with the Minister of State for the OPW, Simon Harris on Wednesday  to press for the repair of embankments damaged in the severe storms of early 2014. IFA has secured a commitment from Minister Harris that he will move this issue on over the coming weeks so that the necessary works can commence. Eddie Downey told the minister that farmers’ lands have been damaged and that the repairs of embankments are necessary to get the land back into production. The delegation told the minister that delays are intolerable and it is not acceptable that there is nobody making a firm decision on the issue. The OPW should take responsibility to ensure that farmers and properties are protected and should instruct Clare County Council that support will be forthcoming through the various schemes under the OPW’s control. Clare IFA chairman, Andrew Dundas said there is huge frustration …

Clare County Council is currently preparing a programme of repair works to infrastructure damaged by the storms from December 13, 2013 to January 6, 2014. When completed, the programme will be submitted to the Central Emergency Response Unit of the Department of the Environment for approval. This news emerged following a motion from Councillor Bill Slattery asking for an update on planned remedial works for Lahinch promenade and a timescale for when the work is expected to be completed. He said he appreciated the work carried out in 2014 by the council but said more is needed. “Lahinch is one of the major seaside resorts in Munster,” he pointed out. Councillor Slattery also questioned the masterplan, which he said he has not seen. The plan was referred to by senior executive engineer, Steve Lahiffe, in his written reply to the motion. Councillor Slattery said, “This masterplan is a joke. Councillor Nagle was involved in a masterplan before I became a councillor …

“Unfortunately, Quilty does not have a cute, sexy and/or sympathy-generating situation.” That’s according to Nancy Creech, co-secretary of the Quilty Action Group, who has written to local TDs, county councillors and the Office of Public Works (OPW), claiming that Quilty is being ignored when it comes to addressing erosion issues in the West Clare village. “The damage in Quilty and Quilty West happened in the second and third storms and missed out on the sensationalism of the media coverage. “I have been watching and listening with interest to the coastal erosion media coverage driven by our neighbours in Clohanincy and I believe that Quilty village is, once again, being overlooked,” Ms Creech’s letter claimed. “Like the residents in Clohanincy, we are attempting to keep safe our property and our village. It has been six months since the winter storms devastated the Quilty coastline and, to date, Clare County Council have done nothing with regards to putting in place a plan …

By Peter O’Connell TIMBER has been stolen by the lorryload from Kilrush Wood over the past few months, it has emerged. Kilrush gardaí are investigating the theft of tonnes of timber from the 420-acre wood, where up to 50 acres of trees were knocked, or partially knocked, during the February storms. Concerns over security in Kilrush Wood were raised at the November 2013 meeting of Kilrush Town Council by Councillor Tom Prendeville. The theft of trees was raised at the April meeting of Kilrush Town Council, where town mayor Paul Moroney requested an update from Coillte on the extent of the damage done during the storms. The meeting also heard that people illegally cutting the wood were doing so with chainsaws they are not qualified to handle. While Coillte is responsible for the majority of the wood, where the Vandeleur Walled Garden is located, Kilrush Town Council has leased a section until the end of 2015. In a statement, Coillte …

A report commissioned by the Doonbeg Coastal Erosion Group has estimated that it will cost €5.31m to carry out the necessary repair work in storm damaged areas in Doonmore (€1.7m) Farrihy (€1.85m) and Cloghaunincy (€1.76m), all of which lie within the west Clare parish. The report was carried out by Fergal Coughlan BE CEng MIEI and has been submitted to Clare County Council outlining the damage caused by the early year storms. The report said that proposed works in Doonmore, where the road surface and a number of houses were badly damaged, will involve the construction of a wall along Killard Road and also the construction of stone revetment to the sea side of same at an approximate cost of  €750,000. Other work deemed necessary in Doonmore is the strengthening of the banks of the Doonbeg River and edge of Killard Road with earth embankments at an estimated cost of €180,000. “These works would also involve the construction of a …

MONEY for piers and harbours in Clare ‘announced’ last week by the Minister Simon Coveney and welcomed by Clare Oireachtas members is not additional funding, it has emerged. Minister Coveney released a statement on Friday outlining a ‘€23 million package for piers and harbours countrywide’, which included more than €230,000 for projects in Clare. Fine Gael Senator Martin Conway, Labour TD Michael McNamara and Chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs and Trade, Pat Breen, all welcomed the €232,650 allocated to Clare County Council under the Storm Damage Programme. However, it now appears this money forms part of the €16.8 million already allocated by the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government to Clare County Council at the end of last month. North Clare representatives are now calling for clarity from central government in relation to the breakdown of funding allocated for the county. Councillor Michael Kelly described the announcement as “spin” while Councillor Bill Slattery said it was …

CLARE County Council has estimated that the damage visited upon Clare’s coastal communities following the recent storms at almost €37 million. In a report to Monday’s council meeting, senior engineer, Tom Tiernan said the estimated cost for remedial works to be implemented with a view to restoring appropriately the vast array of public infrastructure, damaged by the recent storms, was €36,801,284. The estimate of damage caused by Storm Christine was €23.7million but now, in the wake of Storm Brigid, the estimate has been revised upwards to €36.8 million. Having escaped the brunt of Storm Christine, Kilkee wasn’t so lucky second time round. The cost of remedial work in the resort is placed at €875,360. Lahinch was the big casualty with Mr Tiernan estimating the damage caused at €6,064,689. Further estimates included Cloughaninchy in Quilty (€4,716,945), Kilbbaha (€3,498,950), New Quay (€3,449,200) White Strand – Doughmore in Doonbeg (€1,550,250), Doolin (€1,025,500).  With regard to private entities, the report states there was damage to …