Due to storm damage at one of the country’s most popular coastal swimming spots, the Vico Baths, Dalkey, in south Dublin, with its sweeping view of Killiney Bay, is temporarily closed for essential repairs, writes Jehan Ashmore.
For the next 13 weeks, the Victorian-era bathing spot located at Hawk Cliff, off the Vico Road, used by locals and thronged by tourists and celebrities alike, will be completely shut off to swimmers. This is to enable repairs from storm damage of late last year to be completed at the scenic bathing area in advance of the summer.
According to Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council (DLR), the repair works will also enhance the existing swimming facilities and help protect this area for future use.
Ros Aine 1 gets ready to unload equipment to enable repair work at the Vico Bathing Place at the foot of Hawk’s Cliff, Dalkey. Due to the difficult, rugged shore, the wash from the catamaran is seen astern as it was forced to keep position by using its twin OXE diesel 300 hp engines.
In the meantime, the guardrails protecting the walkway to Hawk Cliff, which is only accessible on foot and via a railway bridge, have become unstable. As a safety precaution, DLR has restricted access to the lower pathways and swimming access point until repairs are carried out, and visitors are requested to respect the fencing, barriers, and safety signage in place.
DLR has contracted the coastal project to Cunningham Civil and Marine Ltd., which is to carry out the works at Vico Baths, which originally were exclusively the preserve of men but now also have communal changing rooms at the foot of the cliff.
A mixer is carried ashore from the Ros Aine 1 with its 3.7-ton crane to aid contractors in repairing and improving the Victorian-era Vico Baths, located on Killiney Bay, south Dublin.
The repairs include those of the concrete access steps, the replacement of damaged railings, and the installation of new swim ladders.
The timeframe for the works may vary depending on weather conditions and tidal access to Hawk Cliff, where a workboat, Ros Aine 1 (as above), arrived this morning. Its cargo deck was loaded with construction equipment and materials, with the crew handling a crane to transfer them to awaiting shoreside contractors at the scenic setting.
During such operations and in a slight swell, the catamaran workboat was forced to make several attempts to berth by the bow and at various spots, as there is no berthing quay.
Also located above Hawk Cliff is the ‘7 Éire' sign (see story), using white-painted rocks that overlooks Killiney Bay with the backdrop of the Wicklow Mountains. The WWII site will remain accessible to the public using the same walkway that leads to the swimming amenity, with works due to be completed at the end of May.
