Piers, Harbours and Coastal Protection

Sligo Harbour

Sligo is the only working harbour between Galway and Derry. The main cargoes at the harbour are slack, timber (logs and pulp) and fish meal. It is expected that approximately 20 No. Ships will have docked at Sligo Harbour by the end of 2020 and indications are that shipping movements are likely to increase in 2021.

Loading of logs at Deep Water Quay

Aids to Navigation

Sligo County Council are responsible for ensuring that all navigational aids within the channel and leading to Sligo Harbour are fully operational at all times. This includes:

 29No. Aids to Navigation with lights  7No. unlit perches within the channel

As part of their annual contract, Triur Construction Ltd., monitor and maintain all Aids to Navigation on behalf of Sligo County Council.

As many of these Aids to Navigational were in excess of 15 years old and becoming somewhat unreliable, a complete programme of replacement was carried out by Triur Construction Ltd. towards the end of 2020. All such lights are fully operational and have been inspected and passed by the Commission for Irish Lights.

Sligo County Council are also responsible for the following structures:  the Metal Man  the Bungar Buoy  the Lower Rosses Lighthouse  Oyster Island Lighthouse

The Metal Man underwent significant refurbishment works during 2020.

Lower Rosses Lighthouse – Light fittings refurbished 2020

Floating Pontoon

The pontoon on Ballast Quay at Sligo Harbour is available for use by owners and authorised crew of leisure craft. It is owned, managed and operated by Sligo County Council. The pontoon is 60m long and is available to all local and visiting leisure craft for day trips, short term stays or long term berthings.

Leisure craft can berth safely and securely within easy reach of the city enhancing the tourism potential of Sligo.

The Department of Agricultural, Food and The Marine provide 75% funding support for qualifying rehabilitation and repair works to Piers and Harbours in Sligo.

In 2020 the following projects were supported by the Department.

These included:

 Aughris Pier – major strengthening works to the head of the pier  Milk Harbour – minor repair works and enhancement works.

Aughris Pier: Pier head strengthening works - drilling and grouting steel bars down into bedrock

Coastal Protection

For decades Sligo County Council’s Marine and Structures Unit has been carrying out studies and works relating to the protection of the coastal environment. Depending on the particular situation and issues involved, both soft and hard engineering solutions have been deployed to protect the coast.

Towards the end of 2020, Sligo County Council were awarded a contributory grant from the O.P.W. towards the installation of defence measures at the access to Rosses Point Second Beach. Construction is scheduled for spring 2021.