A new seawall on the Coast Road in Oranmore would need to be 'Mercedes' quality to make it effective.
That's what a meeting at County Hall heard this week as discussion focused on flood defences in Oranmore, Clarinbridge and Kinvara.
When Storm Debi landed in November 2023, it wreaked considerable havoc in all three areas.
A significant flood defence study was commenced in response to the devastation and the current phase is looking at 83 specific properties.
At a meeting at County Hall this week, some councillors attention turned to Oranmore and Storm Debi's demolition of the seawall opposite the train station.
What's in place now is a temporary wall made up of low height concrete blocks.
Senior engineers advised that early indications are that an effective 100m sea wall there would need to be 1.5m tall and built of reinforced concrete.
But, they warned, there was little point building a 'Mercedes' quality wall in one location when there were multiple other breach points around the bay of 'Kia' quality.
Adding to the complications are environmental restrictions around Galway Bay.
There was no real clarity as to what the ultimate solution will be, but surveys will continue in Oranmore, Clarinbridge and Kinvara to inform a broader flood defence scheme.
