My name is Joe O'Sullivan. I was assigned the job of surveying the River Suir and the development along it. I started from the quay in Waterford city and worked my way down to Dunmore East at the mouth of the river.

In Waterford city, concrete walls, 1.5 metres in height have been built up on the edge of the quays. This is to prevent flooding of the quay and adjoining main road at high tide. In 2012, these walls were put in place as there was considerable damage done to the riverside buildings at every high tide.

There are 4 marinas in total now on the quay. 2 on each side of the river. On the Ferrybank side of the river, (left bank), there is the Waterford city boat club where the old factory's and port used to be. The 'Quay-Side Hotel', a three star hotel, is situated here. It was built 8 years ago and is a very prestigious hotel. Travelling further down stream, the meat-processing factory on the left bank has now been replaced by a. state-of-the-art-mansion. This house belongs to the billionaire Louis Walsh that he frequently uses.

There is a major construction and new developments along the riverside downstream as far as the island. The train track that was running along there has been upgraded with frequent train's travelling to Wexford on it. There is a jetty on the island with small boats moored there as part of the leisure facilities "of the still very popular 'Castle Hotel'. It is still secluded and very much like it was 20 yeas ago. There are however major housing developments on the land surrounding the island.

Travelling further down stream we meet the Belview Port. This port has been extended so that it can hold up to 20 container ships at one time. It is a very prominent port for the south and east of Ireland. It brings in around 80 boats a week and provides a lot of employment. It looks well and is clean and tidy. During the trip so far, the wildlife has been very prominent throughout. There are a lot of birds and riverside wildlife. Around 100 metres from the port on the left side of the river, there is a bird sanctuary. The government and county council are funding this. They provide money for maintenance and bird watching towers. It is a popular tourist attraction.

Moving on further down the river, the wood-processing factory 'Louisiana Pacific' is still going strong. It was revamped and updated around 8 years ago and provides major employment for the southeast region.

At Cheekpoint the two rivers -Suir and Barrow, meet. The train bridge across the river Barrow collapsed around 9 years ago and was built up again updated and very sturdy. The electricity factory is still used but will eventually be closed down as most power is now from the HEP station further up the river Barrow and wind power stations around the area. As I move down the river the coastline is still very much the same. The trees on the surrounding hills are still there and the wildlife is still very prominent. Around a mile before we come to Passage East we spot the Dolphin that has been living in this weather for the past 21 years. This dolphin is very friendly and always comes out to meet the boats travelling up and down the river.

Passage East hasn't changed a lot in the past twenty years. The ferry has been updated and can carry up to 35 cars at a time. It travels a lot faster as well making the trip just 10 minutes long. This is a big improvement to what it was 20 years ago, 30 minutes long! Duncannon has increased in size and is now very famous for its pottery.

Moving downstream to Woodstown, the first thing I noticed was the amount of erosion. The beach coastline has been badly damaged and the popular pub 'The Saratoga' is under great threat of being washed away. The beach is still popular for providing a nice walk for people all year round. The oyster fishing no longer takes place there, as the water was deemed unsafe for fish production after a sewage pipe burst contaminating the water 12 years ago. This also put a stop to swimming and sunbathing during the summer months on this beach.

The cliffs on the right side of the river haven't been drastically affected by erosion. They are quite strong and have weathered well. Coming into Dunmore East, the developments here have been drastic. The harbour was extended and now is one of the 5 major fishing ports in Ireland! There is also a marina with a lot of yachts and visiting boats on it. This provides great business for the village and county. The Waterford Harbour Sailing Club has been extended and now hosts major sailing events annually.

The Dunmore east golf club hosts the 'Murphy's Irish Open' every 4 years. This is a national event and is a great advantage to the community. The village also hosts the finishing of the 'Tall ships race' every 5 years. The Dunmore East Adventure Centre has been recognized as the biggest and best water sports centre in Ireland. It hosted the World Windsurfing Championships in 2012.

The Suir has not been widely affected in the past 20 years due to constant campaigning from the locals and the Waterford city and countv councils.

Caroline Torrie

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