Planning has been granted to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine for a small craft harbour to accommodate 32 commercial and leisure fishing vessels on the southwestern part of Dinish Island in Castletownbere.

The new harbour is for vessels from six to 18 metres in length, between the newly constructed eastern breakwater and the extended wharf.

Preliminary dredging work has already been completed under the Dinish Wharf Project.

Application documents for the harbour note that the mainland quay in Castletownbere is overcrowded to three times its capacity, with more than 30 vessels berthed there on occasion.

The new facility is not intended to increase capacity, but rather accommodate the vessels that already use the area.

The Department claim that some of Castletownbere’s traffic issues will be improved by moving a number of the fishing vessels from the mainland quay.

There are also hopes that the new harbour could become a ‘prime lookout destination’ for the town, as the plans include access to undeveloped land behind the breakwater with parking and a footpath.

The Department also claim that this new harbour could benefit Castletownbere’s tourism offerings, as it could accommodate tender boats that service cruise liners and thus bring a new form of tourism to the Beara peninsula.

220V electrical outlets will be installed, and non-potable water supplied from a rainwater harvesting system.

No fuelling facilities will be included, however.