Caroline O’Doherty: Slow response to climate change warnings leaves our coastal communities dangerously exposed

Efforts to protect the coastline during Storm Debi last year When the sea wall on the coast road outside Oranmore collapsed last November, mouths gaped as wide as the gash left in the landmark structure. The wall had withstood countless winter winds, wild waves and Atlantic outbursts, so its capacity to take another battering was not in doubt. Join the Irish Independent WhatsApp channel Stay up to date with all the latest news.