Plans revealed for several piers and harbours in Mayo

Members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District have delivered a long to-do list to the head of Mayo Co Council’s marine section.

Michael O’Boyle attended last week's meeting to provide an update on marine developments along the Mayo coast and when he was finished the councillors had plenty of queries.

Cllr John O’Malley told the Head of Marine that the slipway at Roscahill Pier near Kilmeena is deteriorating, saying: “I had asked two or three years ago for something to be done but nothing had happened. It needs a lot of maintenance. The pier in Rosmindle is also not safe."

Cllr Sean Carey said a winch and retaining wall were needed at Porturlin Pier and a new pontoon was required at Blacksod. An application had been put in for one already and it was a bit frustrating how long it takes for progress to be made.

Cllr Gerry Coyle welcomed some great work being done at Porturlin but said: “We need more proactive and effective works for removing algae from walls.”

Cllr Coyle also wanted Tullaghan Pier looked at with a view to carrying out works.

Cllr Chris Maxwell said he was told by a fisherman there is a problem at Carramore Pier and it was “a small job to sort out before it gets big” and asked could the council also take a look at Lecanvey Pier.

In response, Mr O'Boyle said Roscahill Pier is on the list of works for next year.

“Similarly we are working on the Tullaghan pontoon for next year. I want to replace the pontoon at Blacksod and there is a number of other pontoons in the north of the county we are working on.

“The pontoon we put in at Dugort has been hugely successful. We want to work on the Blacksod one because of the Irish college and all the young people up there enjoying the water. 

"We are applying for funding next year to develop pontoons so we are working on this and hope to have more of them for next year.” 

Work to make slipways around Mayo safer for both boat-users and others engaged in activities at piers is also ongoing, he said.

 “We are getting around to a lot more, they are a tricky issue and we need to keep improving. Fortunately the Municipal District staff here are very enthusiastic about this and we thank them for their help on this.”