This article is from page 11 of the 2014-02-04 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 11 JPG
TOUR operators in Doolin may have to delay the start of this year’s tourist season following extreme damage to Doolin Pier and the surround area over the weekend.
Local operators say they are devastated by the latest storm damage – which undid much of the remedial work done following the devastation of the New Year storm.
Indeed, the St Bridgid’s Day Storm caused more damage to the area surrounding Doolin Pier – with massive boulders being moved into waters close to the pier – blocking the route navigated by the ferry operators.
“Everything that has been done over the past two weeks has been torn up – it’s actually worse than before. The offices on Doolin Pier have been flooded and damaged again. The place is like a tip. It’s like Ennistymon dump 25 years ago. It’s rotten, it’s disgusting to look at. I was down there at six in the morning, watching everything unfold. There was a couple of portacabins down there that were moved 40 or 50 feet in shore,” said Donie Garrihy of Doolin2Aran Ferries.
“The pier has been damaged, there was some safety railing left before but that’s all gone now. The channel where the boats sail out is are all full of big boulders, which will have to be removed.
“We need urgent help. We are starting business at the beginning of March which is only 25 days away. The place is like a dump now, there is no way we can trade the way the place is at the moment.”
There has also been some superficial damage to the new Doolin Rescue Centre – which is currently under construction and due to open early this year.
“We took a drive yesterday in the sunshine. Myself and my wife and my five children went off for a spin. My young fella, who is eight, my oldest son, said ‘don’t bring us anywhere where there is storm damage – I’m sick of it’. That’s what he said to me. He said exactly what I am thinking. That’s what we are all feeling like up here right now,” continued Donie.