‘Always a battle’: Clare Island locals fight to improve ‘dangerous’ pier

Roonagh – the primary mainland pier servicing Clare Island off the coast of Co Mayo – is not for the faint of heart, according to Clare Island Ferry skipper and island native Alan O’Grady.

However, much like other issues examined in our ISLAND NATION investigation, islanders’ concerns are largely going unmet. “If you want to live on an island, the first thing that hits you every morning is how to get in and out of this place,” Ó Cuív told Noteworthy. “So the problem the islands face is mainly related to ferry services, cargo services and piers.” And Ó Cuív “acted on all three”.

Niall Sargent / Noteworthy Ciara Cullen is one of many Clare Island residents impacted by poor conditions at Roonagh Niall Sargent / Noteworthy / NoteworthyProgress slowed down Ciara Cullen certainly noticed the difference. Moving to the island full-time in the early 2000s after stints living there since the 1980s, Cullen runs a small farm on Clare Island, raising horses and milking sheep, alongside growing fruit and vegetables used in the farm’s own summer cafe.

Despite having the utmost confidence in his crew, “safety is the most important thing” for O’Grady and he has often had to cancel sailings or divert to Achill. Cullen retained text messages on her phone outlining all the days when the boat had to be diverted to Achill last winter. “I think February last year was almost like four days or five days out of the week,” she said, fearing that this will be a year-round experience as climate change takes hold.

“I could have been pulling it into the island if we had the facilities. I’d have been at that all day if we had proper slipways. It delays everything for the people building the house.Niall Sargent / Noteworthy Gravel piled at Roonagh Pier waiting to be tarnsported to Clare Island Niall Sargent / Noteworthy / Noteworthy

The Department held a meeting with the Council in December 2022 to discuss the matter, it said, and “understands that Mayo County Council held consultation meetings with the islands communities in summer 2022 and is currently drafting the plan”.

noteworthy_ie Time for a ‘peer review’?

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