Doolin pier plan to ‘ruin waves’

A proposed multi-million euro pier at Doolin “will become a serious danger to surfers in the area,” according to a recent objection by the West Coast Surf Club to the development.

A revised plan for the €6 million pier at Doolin, lodged just before Christmas, has done little to allay the concerns of surfers who claim the development will “negatively impact on the wave environment and will become a serious danger to surfers in the area.”
Clare County Council originally applied for Part 8 planning permission for a pier at Ballaghaline, Doolin in June of last year. The plan proved controversial and attracted large numbers of submissions and objections, particularly from surfers, who claimed the pier, as planned at the time, would damage the waves close to Doolin, particularly at Crab Island.
More than 8,000 people from around the world signed an online petition against the pier. Clare County Council then submitted a revised proposal including changes to the position and length of the pier but according to a new objection by the West Coast Surf Club, the changes provide little improvement.
“Apart from the damage that the proposed works will undoubtedly do to the world famous wave environment, the design poses a serious and significant health and safety threat to surfers accessing the waves at Doolin Point and Crab Island,” stated Cliodhna Fawl, chairperson of the West Coast Surf Club in her objection.
“We feel that it is a very short-sighted and regrettable that Clare County Council, who must now be keenly aware of surfer’s concerns, did not consult with the ISA (Irish Surfing Association) or the WCSC about the new design and wave modelling undertaken prior to the lodging of this application,” she continued.
The WCSC objection also stressed the importance of surf tourism to Ireland and particularly to Doolin.
“Surf tourism is a highly important and valuable income stream for West Clare, throughout the year, and to proceed with the proposed works without any assessment of the impact on these waves or without any input from surfers sends the wrong message not only outside of Clare but also outside of Ireland,” Ms Fawl stated.
This was echoed in a separate objection by Tony O’Halloran of Glounthaune in Cork.
“Waves of this quality are an extremely limited resource and should be vigorously protected. They boost the financial income surrounding area and are a valuable asset to the surfing community, especially examples of this calibre,” he said.
Mr O’Halloran said he believed the new pier development “will both irrevocably ruin both waves in the immediate vicinity and cause serious health and safety issues to surfers accessing the waves through increased rips, reflected waves and vessel paths.”
“I feel that with proper investigation into the impact of the proposed location on this important resource, and through, cooperation with the ISA a suitable compromise can be reached with minimal damage to the wave, reduced threat to surfers safety while accessing the line-up and the development of the pier,” he concluded.
Surfer Paul Fennell from Gurteen in Wexford also objected to the revised pier claiming the development was not in accordance with the North Clare local plan.
Doolin Tourism Committee, represented by Olwyn Egan, is endorsing the development of a new pier at Ballaghaline. Ms Egan highlighted the “congestion levels” at the existing pier stating “the current transshipment arrangement poses health and safety concerns and risks damaging the perception visitors and tour operators may have of the Doolin area.”
Ms Egan stressed the need to redevelop the pier suggesting that “the growth potential of a new pier should not be underestimated. We believe it will be a major factor in encouraging visitors to stay longer in the county instead of passing through.”
She added that while Doolin Tourism Committee recognised the potential for growth of the surfing industry in Ireland “surfers are a relatively small group and on the basis that their concerns have been addressed we must strongly appeal for the plans for the development of the pier to now go ahead for the greater good of the area and the safety of all requiring the use of the pier facility.”