A Line Is Drawn For North Beach Sand Martins

Feeding time… Pic: Raymond Gloden

atest press release from the Marina Village Nature group, issued on Saturday, June 6th 2026…

Greystones residents were delighted at the news that planned repair works at the North Beach access ramp will not proceed until an environmental assessment has been carried out.

The decision follows concerns about a colony of nesting Sand Martins in the adjacent sand banks, where the birds are currently in their breeding season. The Sand Martin is Irelands smallest breeding Swallow species. Because of declining habitats, they are on the Amber list of Birds of Conservation Concern in Ireland.

While the repairs themselves are recognised as important, Sand Martins are migratory birds and visit Greystones every year to breed. They travel from Sub-Saharan Africa in Spring to nest here, and return in September. Therefore, it was requested that the works be postponed until then.

Sand Martins are among the many bird species that depend on suitable nesting habitats during spring and summer, and they can be particularly vulnerable to disturbance while breeding. These works would have significantly disturbed this precious nesting site.

In 2021, Professor Kenneth Baker wrote of the Sand Martins in Greystones, ‘Unfortunately, with the construction of the marina, the nesting sites close to the harbour were netted to prevent access… With no suitable sites to access, the birds left, and no longer visit. A much smaller colony, further along the north beach, near Bray Head, is now the only Sand Martin site in Greystones’.

He adds, ‘Commercial exploitation has resulted in their departure from the southern-most colony at the north beach in Greystones. It is no exaggeration to say that this is a disaster for the present and future inhabitants of Greystones.

‘It is yet another example of the damage caused to the environment by commercial greed, and ill-informed advice prior to the development.’

It is no doubt that their presence at North Beach provides an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of protecting nesting birds and respecting the wildlife that shares our coastline. Nesting birds play a vital role in maintaining healthy and diverse ecosystems.

This outcome highlights the value of community engagement and environmental awareness. By taking the time to assess potential impacts before work begins, it is possible to balance necessary infrastructure improvements with the protection of local wildlife.

Residents hope that the situation will encourage greater understanding of the challenges facing breeding birds and reinforce the importance of safeguarding nesting sites whenever development or maintenance works are planned near sensitive habitats.

You can sign the petition for the North Beach Sand Martins’ protection here, and read Professor Kenneth Baker’s 2021 report here.