Repairs set rowers free as season starts
MEMBERS of Wicklow Rowing Club can safely get their skiffs to the sea again after storm damage to the beach outside their clubhouse was repaired last week.
Storm Emma caused a considerable amount of damage to the beach in front of the clubhouse at Wicklow Harbour which meant club members weren’t able to get their skiffs down to the water. They were also unable to enter a float into the St Patrick’s Day Parade, much to the disappointment of junior members, who always feature.
The matter had been raised at the Wicklow Municipal District meeting the previous Monday, March 26, before the works were carried out. At that meeting, Cllr John Snell insisted that the local authority would have to be responsible for any repairs.
‘Wicklow County Council took control of all the harbours within the county. At the time I raised the point that we could be taking on a huge liability. Now we can’t wash our hands and say “We don’t believe we can do anything because it is the responsibility of the Harbour Board.” We need to do something so the rowing club can get their boats back into the sea,’ said Cllr Snell.
Cllr Gail Dunne said all that was required was some works to help reinstate the beach.
‘This isn’t the first time this has happened. It has actually happened loads of times. It could happen five times in the one year and then never happen again for another three years. Generally, the short term solution is to get a JCB down and pull the stones and reinstate them all the way up,’ said Cllr Dunne.
Wicklow County Council carried out the works on Thursday last, allowing the rowing club access to the beach again.
Wicklow Rowing Club chairman Robert Dunne was grateful for the local authority’s intervention.
‘The council rectified the problem on Thursday night and now we are good to go,’ he said. ‘The Regatta season started on Easter Sunday and the council made sure repairing the beach was a priority.’