Tuesday 19 November will be remembered as a special day on Cape Clear Island as residents were happily surprised to see the ro ro appear in North Harbour around lunch time  with two large excavators and other equipment destined for the planned harbour improvement works for which a contract was recently awarded to Keatings Contractors. A modest crowd gathered and were relieved to see the equipment safely brought ashore by making a ramp on the stony part of the beach to overcome the sea wall. While  Islanders were assured by the Department of the Marine that works would start without delay, seeing is believing and the prompt mobilization of the equipment is a promising sign of things to come. The first phase of the project is of course the construction of the new slip in North Harbour which will facilitate the deliver of equipment and materials for all further stages and phases of the development and this will become a permanent feature so that regular visitors to the Island will notice a very significant change when they approach the harbour thereafter. Presently when the ro ro uses North Harbour it has to approach the present unsuitable slip at an angle which makes loading and unloading more difficult and dangerous. It also encroaches on the area used by small boats, kayaks and even swimmers close to the Club building to which access is by a narrow and steep lane which is used by many pedestrians during the Summer. The new slip by contrast is at the farthest extreme of the harbor such that almost 100% of the traffic relating all further Pier developments will avoid this area completely. Indeed it is a credit to the foresight and careful planning involved  that such large scale works can be carried out with such a minimal impact on the ongoing life on the Island. We look forward to the hustle and bustle around the harbour as the works proceed over the coming winter and spring and hope that weather conditions remain as favorable as possible to see as much as possible accomplished before the busy summer season.