Graffiti on Pier Wall
Sad to see this graffiti on the back wall of our lovely old pier, which is nearly 200 years old.
We don’t know how long the vandalism has been visible, so if anyone noticed it before now can you let us know.
The damage was done with pink and green spray paint. It is quite possible that someone out there saw this paint on someone’s clothes or skin.
The vandalism has been reported to Galway County Council.
If you have any information, please contact Salthill Garda Station: (091) 514 720.
Bearna & Na Forbacha - A Local History (1983):
"Barna Pier is situated in the townland of Freeport. The first pier was a wooden structure, and was built in 1799 by a private individual (probably Lynch of Barna House), and rebuilt by Alexander Nimmo in 1822. It was destroyed in 1830 and partially rebuilt the following year by the Officer of Coastguard and Collector of Galway, with the aid of Charitable funds.
“It is sheltered from the South and South West Gales and is the only safety harbour for small craft in an extent of 27 miles of coast.”
"It is sheltered from the South and South West Gales and is the only safety harbour for small craft in an extent of 27 miles of coast," S. Lewis Topographical Dictionary of Ireland 1837.
The pier was built by the mouth of a little stream, so that the flow of water kept the silt out. Alexander Nimmo, the engineer who designed it, was responsible for the famous Nimmo's Pier in Galway, the harbour in Roundstone (where he is buried), and the main road out to Connemara.
It was built of granite stone quarried locally in Truskey, and capped with large limestone slabs.
