The Moresby Buoy is set to return to its home on the Causeway in Abbeyside over the Easter period.
The news was confirmed by Kieran Kehoe of Waterford City & County Council at the March meeting of the Dungarvan / Lismore District of Waterford Council.
The buoy was controversially removed as part of sea wall repair works in December and was deemed that to be 'beyond repair' on account of significant decay.
The contract to work on the buoy and reinstate a replica was subsequently handed to Dungarvan firm, Coffey Engineering, with the new structure to be 80% of the size of the initial one.
The initial buoy had a red base, but that will now be green as that was the initial colour associated with the Moresby itself.
The buoy is the last remaining association with the famous shipwreck that occurred off the coastline of Dungarvan on Christmas Eve, 1895.
The ship, was carrying 1,800 tonnes of coal from Cardiff to South America when disaster struck on the West Waterford coastline. Only five members of the 23-strong crew survived.
Responding to a query on the buoy at the meeting by Labour Party councillor, Thomas Phelan - Director of Services with Waterford Council, Kieran Kehoe says it’s hoped that the buoy will be ready to return in the next month.
“We’ve completed works on the sea wall and there is seeding to be done in the adjoining area. We now have a contractor who is on site and is developing the picnic area and the expected completion date is now the end of March. Once those works are complete, we’ll install the furniture through our own crews and then we’ll reinstall the Moresby Buoy, which is currently being finished off at Coffey Engineering.”
Noel Coffey of Coffey Engineering also provided an update on Facebook.
“I am humbled by all the good wishes received by Coffey Engineering in relation to us fabricating the new Moresby Buoy. As can be seen in the photo shots, it is ready for painting and will be finished in a green colour before the teak laths are fitted and the lights are put in place. Thanks to Waterford Council for trusting Coffey Engineering to manufacture and deliver such an iconic structure that will sit on its base on The Causeway for hundreds of years to come.”
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