COASTAL SAND DUNES

Coastal sand dunes are important, and unfortunately under appreciated  natural sources of coastal protection from erosion and flooding.  In addition to their protective qualities, they have high recreational value, provide unique and ecologically diverse habitats and guard against saltwater intrusion of freshwater tables.  

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In the Republic of Ireland, there 181 coastal dune sites, plus an additional 15 sub-sites (Ryle et al., 2009).  While they have maintained relative stability in the past, excessive recreational use in recent years has led to destabilization and erosion at a number of sites.  Erosion of coastal sand dunes increases the risk of coastal flooding, causes habitat loss, and may lead to the eventual loss of public and private property.

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In Ireland, there is an overall shortage of coastal process data from monitoring procedures.  This lack of data inhibits a true understanding of Ireland’s complex and dynamic coastal functioning as well as facilitates a reactive rather than proactive approach to dealing with issues like shoreline erosion and coastal flooding.  This approach tends to favour costly, engineered coastal protection measures and often trivializes the importance of natural protective barriers, such as coastal sand dunes. These natural barriers act as buffers, not only dissipating wave energy and guarding against coastal flooding, but maintaining themselves at little to no cost to the state. 

In order to take full advantage of coastal dunes as protective barriers, it is necessary to have an understanding of how they work. The results of research initiatives such as mine will hopefully encourage more proactive and sustainable dune management strategies not based entirely on traditional engineering based solutions.

Coastal sand dunes at Rossbeigh, Co. Kerry are popular with tourists, surfers, horse trekkers, and locals. A major breaching event in 2008 has leveled an entire section of these magnificent 20+ foot high dunes and locals are concerned about their future.