The case made by Aran islanders for a new pier at Inis Oírr has been bolstered by a delay in collecting referendum vote boxes from the island.
Four Aran island boxes did not arrive at the Galway West count centre in Leisureland, Salthill, until just after 10.30 am on Saturday due to weather conditions.
It is understood that boxes had been collected successfully from two of the three Aran islands on Friday evening, but easterly to north-easterly winds made the Inis Oírr pier far too dangerous for landing.
As a result, the Aran boxes were not delivered to the count centre until Saturday morning.
Sorting of over 200 boxes with votes cast in the Family and Care constitutional amendment referendums in the Galway West constituency was by then underway.
Under new legislation, offshore islanders can vote on the same day as the mainland, and this is the first time this has been put into practise.
Weather factors which could result in delays in transporting boxes had been cited as the main reason in the past for island communities on the Atlantic seaboard being obliged to vote several days before the rest of the State.
The change had been championed on behalf of islanders by former Government minister and Galway West TD Eamon Ó Cuív (FF), who had been responsible for improving island transport services during his term in office.
A long campaign by Inis Oírr residents for a safer pier led to a commitment by Minister for Rural and Community Development, Heather Humphreys last summer to ensure works would take place.
She said it was a “key priority”, shortly before a tender for the works was issued by Galway County Council.
The tender published last September sought expressions of interest for new pier improvement works on Inis Oírr comprising a 90 metre (m) pier extension, a 20m inner breakwater, a 160m outer breakwater, 2,500 cubic metre rock dredging, and ancillary works.