Cllr. Jim Moore, Frank and John Marshall standing on Ballygranans Beach, Kilmore, at the point that their farm land once reached to, before it was worn away by coastal erosion. Pic: Nicola Reddy.
FARMERS IN the Ballygranans area of Kilmore have voiced their dismay over the fact that they are losing acres of land, year-on-year, due to coastal erosion and there seems to be no plan to address the situation.
Both the Marshall brothers John and Frank, and neighbouring farmer John Byrne have reported the loss of considerable chunks of land in the last number of years.
The Marshalls estimate that they have lost around 25 acres in the past 15 years, pointing out that their land had been pushed back off Ballygranans Beach by about 50 yards due to stormy weather which has also displaced the sand, turning the once clear and sandy beach into a rock-filled terrain.
They pointed out that they are suffering a double loss as result of this because they are both losing the land and also part of their income through the Farm Payments Scheme as the land no longer exists.
“Our land went down almost to where the shore is now – when we were younger we used to be able to run along the beach because it was all good, firm sand. Even that has gone now.”
Further along the coast, John Byrne has been shocked by how quickly erosion has cut through his land, estimating that he has lost about five acres over the course of just two years.
“In the last few years, it’s got worse. There was always erosion but the speed with which it’s cutting through land in the last few years has been shocking.”
He pointed out that he was once able to herd animals from field to field via the beach but the pathways he once had leading down to it have been hacked away. He was also able to train horses on the beach, letting them gallop from Seaview right to Ballyhealy Point but it was too stony to even walk a horse on it now.
“It’s not nice watching your land disappear right in front of you.”
Local councillor Jim Moore agreed that the erosion of Wexford’s coastline had been progressive over many years but rapid in the past few years. He believed that this was down to a number of factors: the rising sea level; the changing winds, predominantly easterly gales and stormy weather; and the soft coastline.
“Our coastline is soft. There is no rock formation so it is prone to rapid erosion. Even in cases, where rocks are placed to protect an area, it has happened in the UK that the erosion simply cuts around the rock and leaves areas almost cut adrift from the headland.
“What’s happening here is not unique but what I want to know is: who’s monitoring it?”
[Full story in this week’s Echo]