Locals liken waves to 'small earthquake' that inflicted major storm damage to beachfront
The picturesque East Cork village of Garryvoe is still counting the cost of last weekend’s storms which caused extensive damage along its beach, according to .
While much of Cork city and many parts of the county came under pressure from flooding due to high tides and howling winds, it was the intensity of the waves and the sheer power of the sea that caused Garryvoe’s local infrastructure to succumb.
Locals said it was akin to a small earthquake along the strand such was the intensity of the water and the damage caused.
The walkways used by beachgoers were rendered unusable because of the damage with the concrete cracking and collapsing in some parts.
The car park used by beachgoers was affected so badly that cars could not go inside.
Fine Gael TD for East Cork, David Stanton, said that it was a beautiful community asset that he hoped would be back in a state of repair before too long.
“I expect Cork County Council will move quickly to restore the beach and the walkway with the summer coming up. It all depends on funding, which of course highlights the need for a new Government to be in place sooner rather than later.”
Funding of €26,000 was allocated to Cork County Council from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine to meet the cost of repairs last October following storm damage.
The total budget for the reconstruction of the existing slipway in Garryvoe was €35,000 of which the Department provided 75% of the cost on the condition that it was completed in a timely fashion.
Garryvoe has traditionally been one of the most popular beaches with holidaymakers in Cork for generations. The average daily visitor numbers to the beach in Garryvoe during the bathing season is estimated at approximately 500, with maximum numbers of visitors per day estimated at 1,000.
The beach is bounded to the rear by sand dunes, car parks, the award-winning Garryvoe Hotel, holiday homes and a mobile home park.
The bathing area is approximately 300 metres wide and is approximately three-square kilometres in size.
Meanwhile, the Office of Public Works is being urged to allow some funding to be released to Cork County Council engineers so that they can carry out interim prevention works to ease tidal flooding.
