• Winner of the Engineering Project of the Year 2012, Engineers Ireland

PUNCH Consulting Engineers were the Project Managers for the integrated engineering and project management team for the development of the Cill Rónáin harbour, Inis Mór, Aran Islands, Co. Galway. Inis Mór is the largest of the three islands with an area of approximately 40 sq km. It is the main town on the island and incorporates the principal harbour of the three islands, which is by far the most important entry point for islanders, tourists and goods.

The scope of this project included:

• The Construction of a 550m breakwater and seawall to form new enclosed harbour;
• Dredging inner harbour area to allow access for bigger drafting vessels;
• Extension and upgrading of the existing pier to provide additional berthage;
• Creation of a deep-water berth for fishing vessels;
• Provision of new cargo quay and cargo handling area;
• Construction of new slipway to facilitate roll-on roll-off (RO-RO) type cargo operations;
• Construction of a floating RNLI pontoon;
• Reclamation of approximately 13,500 m2 for parking and traffic marshalling;
• Upgrading of existing roads and footpaths in vicinity of existing harbour.

The project was successfully completed in November 2011.