Jobs Boost As €35M Development begins at Inis Mór

There's to be an employment boost on the Gaeltacht island of Inis Mór soon with the beginning of construction work for a €35 million redevelopment of the island's harbour.

Both secondary employment in tourism and hospitality facilities and immediate work in the construction project itself will flow from the infrastructure contract on Cill Rónáin harbour.

This is one of the primary sources of income for Inis Mór, which is one of the largest Aran Islands and has suffered greatly in recent years form a severe lack of investment.

As a prime area for conservation the area is of great importance both environmentally and economically to the island situated on the west coast of Ireland.

Construction will involve the development of a new sheltered harbour consisting of stone breakwater, dredging of approximately 100,000 cubic metres, construction of a new fishing quay, new parking areas, new cargo quay and ro-ro slipway and an RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institute) facility.

This will be one of the largest marine civil engineering projects ever commissioned by Galway County Council.

By increasing fishing and berthing facilities at the port both Galway County Council and the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht affairs aim to economically regenerate the area.

Mark Kelly, Managing Director of Healy Kelly Turner & Townsend said: “This is a fantastic project to be involved with particularly because it is of such cultural importance to Ireland.

“Healy Kelly Turner & Townsend has developed quite a history of working on many marine and civil engineering type projects that have involved preserving an industry that makes such a significant contribution to the economic and social fabric to many of Ireland’s coastal towns and Islands.”

(DW)(BMcC)