Kilmichael Point, between Courtown and Arklow, one of the areas facing serious coastal erosion issues. Pic; Christy Farrell.

County Wexford is shrinking by the day as 400 kilometres of coast line from Arklow Head to Hook Head fights against coastal erosion, but is definitely losing the battle mainly along the North Wexford boundary where the sea is washing away the vulnerable sandy soil north of Blackwater and Kilmuckridge.

Owners of seaside residences along the coast are fearful for the future of their holiday investment and, not only has gardens fallen into the sea, houses have also been taken out by erosion.

The legacy of last winter’s excessive stormy onslaught still lingers with the €1.24 million package for Courtown damage still outstanding and short of works completion, while the €55,000 repairs to the car park at Cahore was completed within weeks!

The Chairman of Wexford County Council, and Fianna Fáil representative for North Wexford, Cllr. Malcolm Byrne has expressed his concern.

Cllr Byrne is warning that Wexford will be one of the most seriously impacted in the country as a result of failing to address the global issue of carbon emissions and climate change.

He fears that inaction now “will see large parts of the Wexford coast crumble into the sea in the coming decades.”

The issue of coastal erosion is vibrant and relevant and will be discussed at the January meeting of Wexford County Council.

Full story this week in THE GOREY ECHO.