Canadian Coast Guard buoy washes up on Mayo shoreline

MAYO County Council is coordinating the recovery of an unusual visitor to the county's coastline.

A large Canadian Coast Guard buoy has washed ashore on Achill Island, having travelled thousands of kilometres across the Atlantic Ocean.

The buoy weighs approximately 3.5 tonnes.

Following contact with the Canadian Coast Guard, Mayo County Council was informed that their buoys are known to be 'very friendly' and occasionally develop a habit of travelling far from home.

To ensure maritime safety, the council is arranging to recover the buoy from the shoreline. There is a risk that it could refloat and become a hazard to vessels or coastal infrastructure.

Plans are in place to refloat the buoy and tow it to Roonagh Pier before transporting it to one of the council's depots.

Adding to its uniqueness, the buoy is designed not only to carry a navigation light but also to produce a distinctive whistling sound using wave action, making it a particularly recognisable aid to navigation.

The discovery has also provided a light-hearted reminder of the strong and enduring connections between Mayo and Canada. Generations of emigration have created deep family, cultural and community links between both places, and this latest arrival serves as an unexpected symbol of those longstanding ties.

David Mellett, director of services with responsibility for marine at Mayo County Council, said: "Our primary focus is to ensure the safe recovery of the buoy and to prevent it from becoming a hazard to navigation or coastal infrastructure. We have been working closely with the Canadian Coast Guard, who have provided valuable technical information to assist with the operation.

“While this is an unusual occurrence, it also serves as a reminder of the strong historical and contemporary links between Mayo and Canada, connections that continue to endure across the Atlantic.”

Mayo County Council has thanked the Canadian Coast Guard for their assistance and technical support during the recovery operation and noted that should the Canadians wish to see their buoy again, they may have to make a special trip to Mayo to collect it.