278 REPORT— 1903. 



9 miles of coast around Soldier's Point, Dundalk Bay, mentions no 

 change ; but from Dunany Point, the southern extremity, a considerable 

 loss results from gales washing away portions of cultivated land to the 

 N.N.W. of the coastguard station. The southern part of a sea-wall built 

 on the Dunany estate is now nearly destroyed, although it is only reached 

 by the tide in bad weather. Gravel is removed as ballast. 



The coast is stationary near Clogher Head and the mouth of the Boyne ; 

 neither station is protected. Beach material is removed from the latter. 



The ample reports from the County of Dublin provide a heavy record 

 of loss, greater on the whole from the northern part of the county. 

 Amongst these is included a report from Laytown, in the County of 

 Meath. It is interesting at the outset to notice that groynes are absent 

 almost throughout the former county. 



Within 500 yards of the Nanny River (Laytown), on either side, the 

 sea has encroached 30 feet during the last twenty years, while losses are 

 recorded near Balbriggan ; from the east end of South Strand to Skennick 

 Point near Skerries ; near Bush, when heavy gales from the east or south- 

 east occur at spring tides ; and near Rogerstown and Portrane. On the 

 other hand, the coast around Lough Shinny, Malahide, and Baldoyle is 

 apparently undergoing no change. 



Shingle, sand, slabs of stone, and other material are removed from the 

 beach at Balbriggan, from the northern end of South Strand at Skerries, 

 to a minor degree from Rush and Portrane and Lough Shinny. A report 

 from Lambay Island states the coast is without alteration ; that no shore- 

 defences have been erected, and that shingle is used only for the pathway 

 to the coastguard station. 



The headland at Howth and the northern side of Dublin Bay show 

 neither loss nor gain. In the centre of Dublin Bay, however, from Poolbeg 

 Lighthouse to Booterstown, inroads of the sea may accompany south- 

 easterly gales. No changes are reported from Kingsdown and Dalkey, 

 but a rapid erosion is taking place between Killiney Bay on the north 

 and past Bray Head to Six Mile Point. The Dublin, Wicklow, and 

 Wexford Railway Company has built a sea wall at the foot of part of the 

 cliffs to the north, but hereabouts two Martello towers have entirely 

 disappeared with the fallen cliffs, while part of the foundations of a third 

 protrudes over the edge (1899). From time to time during the past ten 

 years the railway has removed its permanent way inland, in places 



10 to 30 feet, while at the date the report was written the rails in places 

 are only a few feet from the edge. No beach material is reported as 

 having been anywhere removed, and south of the Cable Rock groynes 

 have been placed to protect the embankment. Southwards as far as 

 Cahore Point the loss of land is much less severe. Near Five Mile Point 

 the coast-line is stationary, no artificial restrictions stay erosion, and 

 gravel &c. is removed for paths and the like. Near Wicklow, however, 

 the sea encroached for the last fifty years at an average rate of 3 feet per 

 annum, while from the Old Strand House to Steam Packet Pier gravel 

 accumulated by being washed down from the northern part of the beach. 

 Groynes have not been built, and from one place beach material is 

 removed. Between here and Cahore Point loss is recorded only along 

 the stretch of coast 7^ miles southwards from Arklow Head, past 

 Kilmichael Point. The coast is low, with sandbanks, and it is these 

 which are being washed away by the sea. The beach, which is of a 

 mixed character, is removed for industrial purposes. 



