Inshore fishermen, local residents, and tourist-related businesses face an nightmarish eight-month road closure to facilitate flood defence works in a West Cork harbour.

Minister for Transport Shane Ross has increased funding for the upkeep of regional and local roads in County Cork for the first time in several years.

Significant changes in traffic management are being considered in the country’s biggest whitefish port to ensure expansion of the industry in the coming years is not hampered by gridlock.