Grattan Beach weathers the storms due to new sand fencing

The sand fencing project in Grattan beach, Salthill has succeeded in preventing coastal erosion in the area, according to a new geological survey.

A volunteer geological crew of members of the University of Galway’s Geography department surveyed Grattan beach on Thursday.

Dr Kevin Lynch, coastal geomorphologist and survey crew leader, said the damage from Storms Isha and Jocelyn has been negligible.  

“From the preliminary view of it, the sand level hasn’t changed,” he said. His team is compiling a detailed report on the coastal impact, which they hope to release within a week.

Dr Lynch credited the beach’s resilience to a pilot sand fencing project that was launched in June 2023 by Galway City Council, the University of Galway and the Atlantic Seaboard North Climate Action Regional Office.

Pilot Project

Announcing the pilot project, Galway City Council Biodiversity Officer Paula Kearney called Grattan Beach “prone to coastal flooding and erosion, with parts of the road and area behind the beach becoming inaccessible after storms and high tides”.

The fences allowed the sand to build up rather than flowing out to the motorway. This positively affected the beach’s biodiversity and acted as a buffer against the storms.

“We’ve got the sand dunes to grow up along the upper part of the beach,” said Mr Lynch. “After Storm Debi that area of the upper beach didn’t erode.”

For University of Galway students, Grattan Beach also serves as a ‘living lab’, where they can observe and experiment with natural phenomena.

“I’m learning about geomorphology and dune beach system management,” said Maylis Sontot-Marjary, who is pursuing a MSc in Coastal and Marine Environment at the University of Galway.

“Grattan is a great place to do it,” she said.

In the wake of Storm Debi, the damaged sand fencing had to be removed. A new set of fences is set to be installed in April.