West Mayo councillor warns pier rock armour could be 'torn apart' this winter
Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell highlighted the damage to Lecanvey pier following Storm Boelo after called for immediate action
A West Mayo councillor fears that rock armour protecting Lecanvey pier will be 'torn apart' this winter as a result of damage caused by recent storms.
Louisburgh-based councillor Chris Maxwell highlighted the damage to Lecanvey pier following Storm Boebo and called on Mayo County Council to immediately carry out work to restore it.
In a Facebook post, the Independent Ireland councillor said that in November 2025, he showed Michael O'Boyle, Head of Marine in Mayo County Council the erosion damage at Lecanvey pier with the purpose of organising work but nothing has been done. He raised the matter at meetings of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District earlier in the year where he warned that if work was not carried out soon, the damage will only get worse.
“At the August 2026 meeting of the Westport/Belmullet Municipal District, I pushed for answers as to why works had not commenced quoting the old saying “a stitch in time saves nine”.
“I was told Lecanvey pier needed further inspections and that there was no indication of immediate risk to the overall stability of the structure. However arrangements were being made for a detailed structural survey which would determine any repairs necessary.
“After the weekend's storms, it is very apparent that “the stitch” hadn’t come in time. I did my own structural survey this afternoon in less than four minutes, you can see the damage in my video,” he wrote on his Facebook page.
Cllr Maxwell said that following his own survey he concluded that the rock armour could be torn apart this winter and immediate work needs to be carried out. He added that a small job has turned into a massive one.
“If the relevant authorities listened to the councillors on the ground and acted this could have been avoided,” he concluded.