Storm protection works are to be carried out at Spanish Point following allocation of €225,000 by the Government.
Rock armour will be constructed over 75 metres with the cliff face to be protected while the car park and public access road will be made safer. Over the past 50 to 60 years, more than 30 metres of land has been destroyed in Spanish Point by coastal erosion.
Minister of State at the Department of Public Expenditure Patrick O’Donovan (FG) confirmed the allocation prior to Christmas. The announcement was welcomed by Cllr Shane Talty (FF) as “very welcome news” for the local community.
A request for funding for coastal protection works at Spanish Point was submitted by Clare County Council in 2018. Council engineer and the Spanish Point Community Group headed by Marion Treacy have been praised for their efforts in raising awareness on the matter.
Clare TD, Joe Carey (FG) stated, “This vital funding will be used to protect the cliff face which has been badly undermined by sea erosion over the years.
Spanish Point’s “wonderful seaside amenity area” will be maintained and enhanced as a result of the works, Cathal Crowe TD (FF) believed. “Decades of ferocious Atlantic waves have wreaked havoc on the area and devoured vast parts of the land. Unlike the predominantly rocky coastline of Clare, the dunes and cliffs at Spanish Point mostly consist of loose shale stones and compacted gravel and mud”.
