Local groups propose alternative plan for Dún Laoghaire Harbour

An “alternative vision” for the future of Dún Laoghaire Harbour sees the port developing as a maritime park with a national watersports centre attracting school visits and competitions from Ireland and world-wide.

A Bord Pleanála inquiry is expected to be told this week that the alternative vision represents a more sustainable use of the harbour than Dún Laoghaire Harbour Company’s ambition to accommodate large cruise ships .

Proposals on the alternative vision reflecting the views of the six sailing and yacht clubs based in the harbour, as well as the campaign group Save our Seafront have been submitted to the planning inquiry and are expected to be discussed on Tuesday.

Major sailing events

Four Yacht clubs – the Royal St George, the National, the Royal Irish, the Motor Yacht– as well as two sailing clubs – the Dublin Bay and the Royal Alfred– have jointly proposed a national watersports centre , remarking that Dún Laoghaire is “exceptionally well placed” to host major international sailing events and championships on an ongoing basis.

The submission points to similar successful developments including the Welsh National Sailing Academy and Events Centre at Pwllheli, north Wales, as well as the Weymouth and Portland National Sailing Academy in England. The submission argues the “skilled event leadership and management” are already in place in Dún Laoghaire to run such events, which it says could contribute significantly to the local economy.

The clubs’ submission lists 10 national and world-level championships scheduled to take place at Dún Laoghaire by 2022, including Youth Olympics events that year.

Long-time sailor at the Harbour Liam Shanahan said the proposal, within a national maritime park, could give the State a renewed role in sail and watersport training , with schools using the harbour for children on marine themed courses, spreading the use of the harbour “beyond just yachties”.

Floating city blocks

Mr Shanahan, an engineer with experience of developing power plans described large cruiseships such as the 17-storey

Queen Mary

, which moored outside the harbour earlier this year, as “a floating city block”. He said the ship required a power plant to run it and such a facility would never be allowed to be built in the area due to the pollution from it, but would be allowed “to float in, and remain all day”.

Campaign group Save our Seafront has also made submissions on “an alternative vision for Dún Laoghaire Harbour with broadly similar concepts.