COURTOWN FISHERMEN FORCED TO MOVE OVER PIER FEARS
With storm season well and truly upon us, fishermen in Courtown have temporarily moved their boats to Arklow as they believe the harbour channel poses a serious danger to them.
Paul Goff, spokesperson for the fisherman, said the swell in the channel has increased greatly since the narrowing of the pier walls, the extension to the north pier and the construction of the smooth wall to the harbour channel.
‘The harbour is 34 feet wide and my boat is 12 feet wide, which is smaller than the rest. The fishermen have moved because of the damage it is causing them when there is a bad swell due to storms,’ said Paul. ‘It has to be the narrowest entrance in the world.’
The five fishermen who operate out of Courtown have been in discussions with Wexford County Council the last two years. They issued a stern warning to the Council last year that the north pier will make the harbour more dangerous than ever and urged them to rethink the design before beginning works.
But, since the completion of works on Courtown Harbour, Paul said Wexford County Council has not been in contact with any of the fishermen.
‘We haven’t heard from them in quite a while,’ said Paul. ‘If the bar needs dredging, what are we meant to do?.’
The swell during storm time has become a major problem for some fishermen that they have left Courtown Harbour to leave their boats in Arklow for safety.
‘We were promised fenders but still no sign of them,’ added Paul. ‘This is having a major impact on all of us money wise and we are all extremely fed up.’
Paul said he has a copy of minutes from a meeting in 1901 between the fishermen and the Council. ‘Even then they were looking for help, but got nothing,’ he said. Paul, who has been a fishermen for 30 years, is sick of fighting for this and getting no where.
Wexford County Council were awarded €1.5 million for repair works to Courtown piers.
‘They were given a lot of money for this and made a mess of it,’ said Paul. ‘They should have taken a part of north pier in instead of extending it. Now, they will need to extend the south pier, that’s the only way I can see this working.’
Paul pointed out the ladder that is placed half way up the harbour channel is lethal.
‘They need to get rid of it,’ said Paul. ‘Young people are jumping in off there and climbing back up the ladder, I had one young person swim in front of my boat when I was coming back in.’
Another spokesperson for the fishermen, who does not want to be identified, also said they witnessed a young person swimming in the channel and nearly hit by a jetski who was returning to the harbour.
‘The channel is a health and safety issue,’ said the spokesperson. ‘Will it take the death of a person before something is done about it? We have highlighted so many times to the Council.’
Wexford County Council was contacted but not available for comment.