Business owner calls for suitable safe harbour on Clare Island

A CLARE ISLAND businessperson has called on the Government to address the continued absence of a safe harbour suitable for accommodating the number and size of boats that serve the island.

In a letter sent to The Mayo News, Chris O’Grady who has run a hotel on Clare Island since the 1960s, lamented the lack of investment into the harbour despite the large number of boats required to service the hugely successful Clare Island Salmon Farm.

The Clare Island Salmon Farm was established in the 1980s after the local community set up Cliara Development Company Ltd, in order to bring some form of industry to the island and arrest the drift of young people to the mainland.

The Clare Island Salmon Farm is known in many parts of Europe for the high quality of salmon fish it produces, employing up to 100 people yearly at its island base and on Achill Island and other areas.

“The success of this island industry, set up with little or no financial input by Government, has brought about a situation on Clare Island where we do not have a suitable safe harbour to accommodate the number and size of boats that are required to maintain and service the fish farm cages and the island generally,” Mr O’Grady wrote.

“There are five boats with crews all owned by island men full-time working regardless of weather conditions in fish farming activities, the only day in the year they are not working is Christmas Day. There are five other boats also, up to and over 100 tons weight each, owned by island men servicing both Clare Island and Inishturk, and due to harbour exposure to Atlantic swell and strong easterly winds, all boats have to run to Cloughmore, Achill, for shelter.

“This is a regular occurrence in the present climatic conditions we are going through at present and the existing pier can only accommodate two of our heavy vessels tied alongside at any one time. All other boats large and small have to be placed at anchor in exposed water.”

Mr O’Grady said that the Clare Island community has been highlighting this issue with the relevant authorities for many years without success. He questioned how larger investments in piers have been made in Gaeltacht islands but not in Clare Island.

“When looking at Gaeltacht islands and the many millions of money being spent on harbours over all in recent years, one has to ask the question, is it the language we speak that is the problem?

“We are one of three off-shore islands on the coast that regretfully do not speak the native language. Inishturk and Inishbofin are the other two.

“I stand to be corrected by saying that [Clare Island] is the only island off the coast that has an ongoing industry in fish farming, [with Clare Island Salmon Farm] employing up to 100 people yearly from its island base, Achill Island, and other areas. It is our hope that some action will be brought about on this issue as soon as possible and before the next general election,” he concluded.