Greencastle
Breakwater Project
02.05.23
SIGNIFICANT progress has
been confirmed on the Greencastle Breakwater Project
with Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine,
Charlie McConalogue TD approving the foreshore lease and
Donegal County Council confirming the appointment of
Foyle & Marine Dredging as contractor for the scheme.
Next steps for the project include the contractor
preparing for site entrance, followed by in-water works
commencing in May 2023 with expected completion in Q4. |
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Photomontage of completed
breakwater at Greencastle Harbour |
The local community is
dependent on the fishing industry and the marine
industry in general with almost 200 people directly or
indirectly employed. Greencastle is the second largest
white fish port in Ireland and is also home to a large
inshore fleet mainly engaged in shellfish and crab,
making it a key town in Ireland’s seafood sector.
Greencastle has significant fishing support services
including fish processing, marine engineering, boat
building and net making.
The current funding provision for this project for all
associated costs is nearly €17m. The new breakwater will
be a curving rock armour to the south-west of the
harbour entrance.
Commenting on the project, Minister McConalogue said “It
is great news that this important infrastructure project
has reached construction stage and I am looking forward
to the first sod being turned on the project. The new
breakwater will be a game-changer for Greencastle and
Inishowen and will significantly add to the marine
infrastructure in the area. My thanks to all involved in
making this happen, including Donegal County Council, my
Department officials, Doran Consulting for the detailed
design, the Contractor Foyle & Marine Dredging and to
Foyle Fisherman’s Co-Op and all who use the
infrastructure at Greencastle.”
Commenting, Seamus Bovaird, secretary of the Greencastle
Harbour Users’ Group welcomed the resumption of works on
completion of phase one of the project.
Seamus said: “To see workmen and machinery moving around
the Queensport is something that we have been looking
forward to for many years.
There have been many changes in the fishing industry
since 2008, when work on the breakwater ceased, not many
of them good, but the harbour is still at the heart of
the community. Further development of the harbour will
create job opportunities to replace those lost in the
fishing industry.” |
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