Remedial works on Mayo's Roonagh Pier to begin this summer

Mayo County Council is pressing ahead with an eight-month programme of remedial works at Roonagh Pier near Louisburgh, the vital ferry gateway to Clare Island and Inishturk, after routine surveys revealed significant structural undermining at the facility.

The outer section of Roonagh Pier - the area beyond the second set of steps, furthest from the shore - was closed with immediate effect at the end of October after potential structural issues came to light during routine maintenance.

According to Michael O'Boyle of Mayo County Council, the discovery triggered an urgent response. "Due to a routine survey that we carried out last November, we discovered that following on from all the storms and different weather conditions, the pier in general is significantly undermined," he told councillors.

READ MORE: Tenders issued for urgent repair works at Mayo pier

The council moved swiftly to address the problem. Consultants were engaged to carry out a full structural appraisal, an initial design programme was completed, and contractors have since been tendered for. Work is expected to begin on site by mid-August, with an eight-month remedial programme running through to spring.

Impact on Ferry Services
The partial closure reduces the pier to effectively half its operational capacity, with knock-on consequences for ferry operators and island communities heading into the peak tourism season.

The closure removes one of the docking stations at Roonagh, and while the two ferry companies operating from the pier can manage with one berth during the quieter off-season, a continuation of reduced capacity into the tourist season — when crossing numbers increase — could force ferries to wait at sea while other vessels are unloaded and loaded.

In response to the reduced capacity, the council met with ferry operators and the Department, agreeing on a revised summer timetable. O'Boyle confirmed that "a new programme will be published in the next week outlining the times and schedules for the two operators over the summer period," along with new protocols around logistics, tourism management and car parking at the pier.

Bigger Plans in the Pipeline
The remedial works come alongside a longer-term transformation project for Roonagh. The council has been developing a strategic assessment and initial business plan — currently at the halfway stage — for a major new harbour facility at the site.

O'Boyle said the document is expected to be ready by summer, with the full development likely to take four to five years to complete.

Councillor Chris Maxwell welcomed the news, describing Roonagh as "strategically positioned" at the heart of Mayo's west coast. "The proper infrastructure with breakwaters and everything — I think it's going to be a game changer for the whole of County Mayo," he said, pointing to the harbour's potential to support offshore wind energy, wave energy, and other marine industries alongside its role as a lifeline for island communities.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme