The Kerry seaside resort of Ballyheigue fights coastal erosion.
The coastal village of Ballyheigue is one of the areas in County Kerry most affected by coastal erosion. Ballyheigue has seen its graveyard submerged, waves lapping at front doors and buildings buried under sand.
Former Kerry inter-county footballer Joe Keohane recalls in 1936 Ballyheigue had a football pitch, hurling grounds and a handball alley. All of these are now gone due to coastal erosion.
Kerry County Council does not have funding to deal with coastal erosion so Ballyheigue residents have taken matters into their own hands. A strand committee was set up and £700 raised.
Work began on building up the promenade. Boulders were placed in front of the promenade and wooden sleeper dune protection structures were erected on the beach.
Strand committee secretary Peadar Nelliligan calculates that the cost of this protection work was in the region of £4000. This would have been considerably more had the labour involved not been carried out on a voluntary basis,
In fact that was the great feature of it, that so many were willing to come along evening after evening and stick at it even late into the night.
People also contributed a lot of the materials and machinery used in the work helping to keep the cost down.
Parish priest the Very Reverend James Enright is at the forefront of turning the tide on the Ballyheigue struggle with the sea. He believes the village has great potential as a tourist destination.
Although the first stage in the battle against coastal erosion has been won, government assistance will be vital for further protection against the sea.
A 'Newsview’ report broadcast on 27 August 1963.
