Dublin Port commences €2.5 million investment to protect critical Great South Wall

Dublin Port has begun a €2.5 million programme of essential remedial works to repair the Great South Wall rock armour which was damaged in December’s Storm Bram.

The wall is a critical piece of national marine infrastructure and one of Dublin’s most cherished public and historic amenities.

Built between 1720 and 1795, the wall is more than 230 years old and still stands in its original form.

Today it continues to perform an important engineering function of safeguarding and sheltering the shipping channel into Dublin Port and supporting the safe movement of the vessels that facilitate €165 billion of trade and 1.7m people each year.

The wall’s rock armour has recently sustained damage from increasingly severe weather, as seen throughout January and also including December’s Storm Bram – the fifth strongest storm ever recorded on the Irish Sea.

During the storm, sections of the existing rock armour, which protects the breakwater, were loosened and displaced. Urgent remedial works are now required.

The five-week programme of works will involve replacing lost rock armour at the roundhead near Poolbeg Lighthouse, using material sourced from Arklow.

The works will be undertaken by Murphy and the Port has engaged with all customers regarding relevant updates to sailing practices.

A section of the wall, approximately 100 metres from the Poolbeg Lighthouse, is temporarily closed to the public while these works are underway.

Cormac Kennedy, Head of Commercial at Dublin Port, said: “With increasing wave heights there has been an exponential increase in the power of these waves.

“That means the wall will continue to encounter more frequent and more damaging storms, and we need to move swiftly to remediate recent damage.

“What we are doing now is the first phase of works, with more extensive rock armour placement planned over the coming years.

“As we deliver on our Masterplan, the impacts of climate change are built into the design of all our projects.

“We are already strengthening our coastal protection along the Tolka estuary which will form part of the potential expansion of the Tolka Estuary Greenway.

“These remedial works are part of our environmental and conservation responsibilities, which recognise the potential impacts of changing weather patterns and sea level rise. With this work, we are seeking to protect Dublin Port and to continue to safeguard shipping operations.”

Port Engineer, Eamon McElroy added: “As storms become more severe, we need to work quickly to protect this crucial piece of marine infrastructure. Our regular laser scanning and 3D modelling of the wall has shown some movement in the rock armour which requires us to act now to ensure the strength of the Great South Wall.

“The walls exist in a harsh marine environment requiring us to closely monitor any movement of the rock armour and wall integrity. Protecting the wall is a key component of our response to climate change, strengthening our infrastructure to protect the Port and the national monument for decades to come.

“While these works are ongoing, we would like to remind the public to take extra care when visiting the Great South Wall.

Visitors are advised to wear appropriate footwear, be mindful of changing weather and sea conditions, and fully respect any safety signage or temporary cordons in place.

We also ask everyone to play their part in protecting this historic national monument by taking litter home and helping to preserve the wall for Dubliners, visitors from around the country, and international tourists for generations to come.”

The Great South Wall is not only a vital piece of port infrastructure but also a valued recreational amenity.

Each year, around 100,000 people visit the Great South Wall, making it one of the capital’s most loved walks and Ireland’s longest public monument at almost 5km.

The wall stretches all the way to the iconic Poolbeg Lighthouse, an active aid to navigation since 1767 and an enduring symbol of Dublin’s maritime heritage.

The Great South Wall works in tandem with the North Bull Wall to prevent the silting up of the mouth of the Liffey and providing a safe harbour for shipping.

Both walls are breakwaters and create an increased tidal flow out of the Liffey which naturally keeps sediment and silt from building up, making it easier to maintain the required depths for shipping.

During extreme weather events the Great South Wall is, for safety reasons, often closed. In 2025 the wall was closed on four occasions, three occasions in 2024 and only once in 2023.

It has already been closed several times in 2026. During these works, a section of the wall, approximately 100 metres from the Poolbeg Lighthouse, will be temporarily closed to the public.

Dublin Port advises all users to monitor Dublin Port’s social media channels for updates on works and access, and to always follow the safety guidance issued.