By Dan Walsh at monthly meeting of Wexford County Council and Kilpatrick Beach
Plans to install 80 metres of rock armour to facilitate the construction of a new entrance or access to existing properties which has been cut off due to coastal erosion at Kilpatrick Beach, Castletown, Gorey, were approved at last Monday’s monthly meeting of Wexford County Council.
Speaking to WexfordLocal.com Independent Cllr Joe Sullivan, who lives locally, he explained the €1 million plans for the successful passing of a Part 8 Planning and Development Regulations 2001 at this historic area of North Wexford.
“The works shall consist of installing 80 metres of Rock Armour at Kilpatrick Beach to facilitate the construction of a new entrance or access to existing properties that have been cut of due to coastal erosion. Replace existing culvert and realign beach access ramp.
“As the local representative for this area and having worked with all the stakeholders to ensure we arrived at this point I would like to warmly welcome the completion of this part of the project.
“I would like to particularly pay tribute to the two people without whom this project would not be happening. The people I refer to are of course Eamonn Hore Director of Services at Wexford County Council with responsibility for Environment who worked tirelessly to ensure that, plans were drawn, all environmental concerns were addressed and most importantly funding was secured.
“It’s at this point I want to extend a thanks to Kevin “Boxer” Moran Minster of State for Public Expenditure Infrastructure, Public Service Reform and Digitalisation who once the case was made to him by Eamonn Hore came on board and supported the project while committing the funding from his Department.
“I now look forward to this project progressing in a timely manner for the betterment of the local residents’ wider community and the very welcome tourists who visit our beautiful beaches on a regular basis. “The last word must go to the residents of the houses who have had to endure hardship accessing their properties for a number of years. Your wait is nearly over and your persistence lobbying and patience is acknowledged, concluded Cllr Sullivan.
HISTORY; While visiting Kilpatrick Beach Cllr Sullivan brought me to see St Patrick’s Well – Toberpatrick -which is still venerated. According to On Our Own Ground – County Wexford Parish by Parish, Volume 1, by Edward Culleton (published by Wexford County Council Public Library Service in 2013), page 168 reads;
“In the Millennium Year of 2000, the community of Castletown restored the easily accessed site (the well) for use. The pure spring water which emerges from under the shale outcrop contains no sea water, unlike other springs in the area.”
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