OPW rejects bid to repair sea wall

The Office of Public Works has rejected pleas to repair a collapsed sea wall.

About 10m of sea wall in Youghal, Co Cork, fell 20m onto rocks two months ago, forcing authorities to restrict traffic and pedestrian access.

The wall at Moll Goggin’s corner is on the N25, the main artery through the town.

Residents in the East Cork tourist resort want the county council to seek funding across three government departments for urgent remedial works.

The wall is close to two viewing balconies which have been closed for years due to fears of collapse. The adjacent road is currently governed by emergency traffic lights, single-flow traffic, and an improvised walkway. Residents fear an eventual major road collapse.

Youghal Town Council was furious at the OPW’s letter of rejection. The agency claimed the “collapsed structure and adjacent structures are not primarily coastal erosion protection structures” and “would be classified more correctly as slope stabilisation, facing and/or retaining structures”. The OPW said it did “not have a role in funding”.

Youghal Mayor Michelle Hennessy noted when a section of road on nearby Lighthouse Hill collapsed 50 years ago it had been “classed as coastal erosion”.

Town manager Paul Murray said the county engineer had stated it would be “up to the county manager” what option to take if the OPW refused funding.

Mayor of Cork County Barbara Murray, also a town councillor, accused county hall of “kicking for touch”.

She said officials would “likely do the rounds of government departments”.

Town clerk Liam Ryan said the problems involved “coastal erosion, a main artery road, and stabilisation work”.

He said he planned to confer with the county engineer “in relation to making multiple submissions” to the OPW, Department of Environment, and Department of Transport.