The annual horse races on the beach at Laytown, Co Meath, could be in jeopardy because of a plan to protect the coastline from erosion. A consultants' report which has warned that horse racing may be restricted due to necessary work has been sent to the Department of the Marine by Meath County Council, which is seeking funding of £2.32 million.
The report by Kirk McClure Morton was commissioned by the council and covers the short Meath coastline from Mornington to Gormanston. It is to form a technical basis for future coastal protection works.
It said protection measures to date were done on a piecemeal basis using grants from the Department of the Marine of between £25,000-£50,000 a year.
The council used this funding to place "gabians" on the coastline to maintain the lands, but no work was undertaken to enhance the beach or restore the sand which has been drifting north towards Mornington.
Work on developing Drogheda Harbour begins in September and will involve dredging fine sand from Mornington Port.
The report suggests using this to replenish the Meath coast and protect it with groynes or headlands at intervals on the beach to prevent it being lost again. The consultants said horse racing could be restricted as part of the protective measures. They will meet local members of Meath County Council this afternoon.
A councillor, Mr Tom Kelly, said: "The preservation of the beach is a priority, but the alternative may be to lose all the sand on the beach, and there will be no racing at all. There has been serious erosion on the beach in the last 25 years . . . Laytown race day has an average spend of £100,000 in the area and gets us publicity we could not buy."