UCC study urges council to take action on coastal erosion 

Beaches in the region are also being impacted, with rotting groynes leading to sand being blown away. Picture: Larry Cummins

Cork County Council officials are being urged to act swiftly on the findings of a University College Cork study into coastal erosion in the region.

A large amount of agricultural land in the East Cork region has already fallen into the sea due to storms, and more is at risk from rising sea levels as a result of global warming. 

Beaches in the region are also being impacted, with rotting groynes leading to sand being blown away.

Experts on coastal erosion from UCC are working on research to help communities and local authorities tackle the problem.

A first report from UCC, due to published in early 2026, outlines measures that need to be addressed now, while a second report, which will take a further year to finalise, will look at the impact expected sea level rises will have on coastal communities in the future.

Fine Gael leader on the council Michael Hegarty said he expects the ‘current vulnerability report’ to be presented to councillors early in the new year.

While many coastal regions in the county are at risk there are urgent issues in East Cork, especially between Youghal and Knockadoon, near Ballymacoda.

“I had approaches from landowners in Ballymacoda who were prepared to put in rock armour in that area," Mr Hegarty said. 

"They were told that they couldn’t do this until the details of the first UCC report are known. The situation is critical there. 

If there is a breach of the coast, with storms and high tides in that area, it could cause serious flooding in Ballymacoda village itself.

Fianna Fáil councillor Ann Marie Ahern highlighted similar issues at St Ita’s GAA pitch, near Gortroe, Youghal.

“Currently, costal erosion is having a severe knock-on effect on the playing pitch at St Ita’s, with the side of the grounds being eaten away," she said.

"It’s getting worse with each storm and unless interim measures are put in place to stop the erosion, the playing pitch will be impacted. 

"There’s one section of the grounds where there are only metres left between the playing pitch and the coast,” she said.

Ms Ahern said the GAA grounds are a much-needed sporting facility and the results of the UCC report and recommendations to prevent coastal erosion in this area need to be acted upon swiftly.

Works need to commence immediately before the playing pitch at St Ita's is lost to the sea. 

"We need the county council and government to see the impact on our local coastline and on our sporting grounds and get it addressed as soon as possible,” she said.

Fianna Fáil councillor Patrick Mulcahy pointed out the predicament of around a dozen residents living at the Pilmore Cottages to the west of Youghal.

One several occasions in recent years the only road leading to the properties has been severely damaged by storms and cut off for some days while repairs were carried out by county council staff.

Locals have taken it upon themselves to renew old groynes in the area, which has helped to ease the problems but concerns remain about the sustainability of these solutions.