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Port Oriel (Clogher Head), County Louth, Ireland

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Today's local tide estimates
High water: , Low water:  * Coming soon
High water: , Low water: 

Local weather
WNW Force 4, Clear/Sunny, 2°C

Swell today
Direction S, height 0.2 metres, period 5.2 seconds, significant wave height of 0.5 metres.

Summary
A good location with straightforward access.

LWS draught
3 metres (9.84 feet).

Shelter See it »
Sheltered: E, SE, S, SW, W
Unprotected: N, NE, NW

Nature (summary)
Anchorage, alongside pier.

Facilities (summary)
Diesel alongside, fuel by tanker, slipway, basic shopping, toilets, public houses.

Haven position? See it »
53° 47.925' N, 006° 13.277' W

Where is that position? See it »
At the pierhead.

What is the initial fix? See it »
The following Clogher Head Initial Fix waypoint will set up a final approach:

53° 48.100' N, 006° 12.900' W

400 metres northeast of Clogher Head

What is the story here?
Port Oriel is a fishing port situated on the north side of Clogher Head, approximately five miles north of the River Boyne river estuary. Although primarily a fishing port yachts come alongside the pier, or raft up to fishing boats, and there is a good anchorage.

Port Oriel is a good anchorage in all winds except those from northwest round to northeast. There maybe a possibility of a swell in easterlies. Access is very straight forward as the harbour is open to the north and there are no immediate offshore dangers. There is a sectored light at the head of the cove.

Why visit here?
Port Oriel, (Irish: Poirt Oirialla) .and the fishing village of Clogherhead (Irish: Ceann Chlochair) offers easy access from the sea and is a convenient stop for a boat making a passage up the east coast of Ireland. Views from the hills from the port and around the village are quite dramatic.
The friendly town, twenty minutes walk inshore of the pier, developed though the centuries safely hidden from the sea marauders. In the nineteenth century the village was known simply as Clogher or Kilclogher while the headland was called Clogher Head. Today the village is called Clogherhead while the headland remains Clogher Head.

Today Clogherhead is a popular tourist destination. The village is also notable for its sandy beach which extends from the lifeboat station, in existence for over 100 years, to the Boyne estuary.

How to get in?
From the initial fix you may come straight in and round the pier head. Expect a one knot current streaming east across the head of the pier as you close in. This eastbound stream is a factor of the pier except for the first two hours of the flood tide.

The recently enhanced harbour area consists of a small drying inner basin from which a pier protrudes 200 metres north from the shore. The inner basin’s entrance can be closed by storm boards in bad weather that is unlikely in the sailing season.

Berthing alongside the pier depends upon the activities of the local fishing boats. At times the harbour could be full of fishing boats whilst at others a visiting boat could have the harbour to oneself. It is hard to predict. The western side of the pier has 2.7 metres at the north end and the depth gradually decreases towards the south where it dries. Prepare long warps if you are not rafting up alongside a fishing boat. The bollards are set apart at some distance. The pier has good recessed ladders to come aloft. Don’t leave the boat unattended for any length if alongside as you may disrupt fishing activities.

The drying inner basin is usually crowded, particularly so at the weekends. If you plan to dry out in the basin the best chance of an alongside berth is during the week. You should contact the harbour master to see it this is possible. At half tide you can expect to find approximately 2 metres at the entrance.

Anchor north of the small slip that resides approximately 100 metres west of the breakwater. You will find depths of around 2 to 3 metres with good holding plus there are four moorings reportedly available in this area. Land the dinghy at the slip and take it out of the water.

What are the tides here?
Today's Dover tides — High water: 09:09, 21:36, Low water: 03:55, 16:22 From Tide Times

HW Dover + 0010, Rise 4.8 – 4.3 metres

What facilities are available?
Diesel fuel is available on the quay in the basin. Fresh water is reportedly available by the toilets at the southern end of the pier - but in my experience I have not located it. There is no electricity available save for three phase provided for the fishing boats. Fresh provisions and stores, and the nearest pub, can be found at the village of Clogherhead (Population in 2002 of 906) twenty minutes walk to the southwest.

The village of Clogherhead is 12 km north of the provincial town of Drogheda that offers more services. Drogheda also offers very good connections to Dublin city, on the Belfast–Dublin main line of the Irish rail network. Drogheda is located close to M1 (E1 Euro Route 1) (main Dublin - Belfast motorway).

What emergency contacts are there?
Dublin Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre (MRCC) VHF Ch 83 covers the area from Carlingford Lough to Youghal. Carlingford (04), Wicklow Head (02), Rosslare (23) and Mine Head (83) provide relay stations. Coastguard Radio is always called on a working channel. Emergencies are worked on 16, 67 and working channel.

Alternatively, or if ashore, phone 999 or 121 (free) and ask for ‘Marine Rescue’. Gardai (police), Fire and Rescue are also available on this number. Dublin (MRSC) may be contacted directly on +353 1 662 0922/3

Also Port Oriel Harbour Master
Phone: +353 41 22225
VHF: Ch. 16 - Call sign ‘Kilfinor’

Any security concerns?
If alongside you should not leave the vessel unattended so as not disrupt fishing activity.

With thanks to:
Richard McGoveran - ISA/RYA Yachtmaster Instructor/Examiner - navigation and sail training available - details: http://www.sailtraining.ie/'>www.sailtraining.ie/'>http://www.sailtraining.ie/

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