The surface of the carpark at the new Doolin Pier has ripped clean off its foundation by Storm Imogen just weeks before the start of the ferry season.
Ferry operators at Doolin in Co Clare are hopeful however that the new pier hasn’t been damaged and that works to repair the carpark will be completed before the beginning of their season.
The entire carpark, only opened last summer, has been left covered in large boulders and stones washed up by the latest storm event. Debris was washed several hundred feet inland from the shoreline and covers the entire carpark.
The tarmacadam surface of the carpark and over six inches of gravel base were ripped from the ground leaving the natural limestone beneath exposed once again.
The old carpark at at the site has been left covered in boulders and rocks and will take several days to clear. It’s not believed the surface of the carpark has been badly affected.
A clean-up operation began early on Monday in many areas along the west coast however work has yet to begin in Doolin.
The worst affected areas by Sunday nights storm were at Kilcredaun and Rinvella near Carrigaholt, Ross Bay, Marine Parade in Kilkee, White Strand (Miltown Malbay), Lahinch promenade and carpark where work was completed yesterday (Tuesday).
In Doolin, debris that had washed up onto the roadway in front of the local Irish Coast Guard station was quickly cleared to ensure access in the event of a call-out.
In contrast, the carpark next to the new €6m pier, opened last June by Minister for Public Expenditure Brendan Howlin, has suffered extensive damage.
Senior Engineer with Clare County Council Mr Tom Tiernan said: “Engineers surveyed the car park area on Tuesday afternoon. The sea intrusion in the harbour area is extensive. The distance that sea debris was carried inland underlines the strength of the storm system and the associated surge.”
“An extensive cleanup is required before a determination is made on the infrastructure repair works that may need to be undertaken. Clean-up works will begin in the coming days,” Mr Tiernan said.
Joe Garrihy Doolin2Aran Ferries is hopeful the new pier hasn’t been damaged but said it’s too early to tell.
“It’s still too rough out there to be able to see whether the pier has been damaged. We would by hopeful that it hasn’t,” he said.
“There is a lot of debris in the carparks. It’s mostly rocks and stones but the carpark surface has also been badly damaged. We only have a few weeks before the ferry season starts up again so we would be hopeful that the repairs can be completed in time,” Mr Garrihy added.