Cllr Joe Sullivan surveys the coastal erosion around Dodds Rocks. Pic: Christy Farrell

Courtown Golf Club could be a casualty of rampant coastal erosion and be invaded by the sea unless emergency measures are promptly enacted while private residences and their gardens are also facing serious threat and in danger of falling into the sea.

A concerned seaside community is losing patience with the local authority as the worsening battle against coastal erosion verges on crisis point in North Wexford and strong pressure is emerging for the construction of the proposed marina at Courtown Harbour.

Wexford County Council has completed its most recent rock armoury programme, which has been deemed a great success, however, new challenges are emerging and one of the immediate flashpoint locations is at Dodd’s Rock, north of Courtown pier.

Local councillor Joe Sullivan is familiar with the constant erosion caused by wave movement and occasional stormy weather and he believes that priority should be shown in favour of saving Dodd’s Rock, where rock armour was put in place about a year ago.

Jim Murphy, Officer-in-Charge, Courtown-Arklow Coast Guard believes that urgent protection measures are need.

“The water is getting in past the rock armour at Dodd’s Rock and the trees in the forest are being sucked away and the golf course is in grave danger,” said Mr Murphy, who added; “There is no protection at all at the end of the Burrow where the river enters the sea. Coastal erosion is very serious along the North Wexford coast.”

Cllr Sullivan told a recent meeting of Gorey Municipal District Council that further deterioration could be disastrous and the golf course will suffer serious consequences.

Full story this week in THE GOREY ECHO.