This article is from page 8 of the 2014-02-18 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 8 JPG
WORK has begun on the regional road through Kilbaha, but the good news stops there for the Loop Head residents.
Last week residents protested when Clare County Council insisted that the regional road through the village of Kilbaha must remain closed as it was seriously compromised by the high tides and winds on St Brigid’s Day, February 1.
This weekend the West Clare area branch of Clare County Council has begun work on “interim remedial works” on 120 metres of the sea wall in the village.
Senior area engineer Cyril Feeney said that this work will allow the council to reopen the road, which is its priority. The work is expected to be completed in just over a week.
Meanwhile for residents in Ross Bay life remains difficult, as it is unlikely that money will be available to repair the local road in the near future.
Children going to St Cuan’s National School, Kilbaha, are being driven up to 50 kilometres daily to get them to school and home. For families like the Magners who live just three kilometres from the school, they must take a round trip of more than 16 kilometres just to make class, as the Ross road is impassable since the Christmas high tides and storms.
For Pat Magner the added time taken to get his children to school is among the least of his worries, as 20 per cent of his farm land has been flooded three times in a month.
This prime grazing land will not be useable until late autumn and will take a huge financial investment to put right. The dairy farmer may even be forced to sell some of his herd affecting his livelihood further.
Mr Magner is not alone in his plight as farmers from all over the peninsula are facing another tough year, having already come through a fodder crisis just last spring.
“No one has given us any assistance or help,” said Mr Magner.
Meanwhile in Kilkee Clare County Council has engaged a specialistconsulting engineer to assess the seawall and Strand Line.
When work can begin on the wall however is subject to if and when financial assistance becomes available from Central Government.
The Strand Line from Jimmy’s Hill to Minster’s Place remains closed to traffic but pedestrian access is being maintained via the town side of the street. Council engineers are monitoring the structural stability of the road and seawall on a continual basis.