Project Updates
Welcome to the first edition of the Roche Ireland Ltd Clarecastle Project Updates.
The purpose of these Updates is to keep you informed of the work involved in demolition and remediation of the Roche site at Clarehill, Clarecastle, Co Clare. Each edition will outline the work underway at that specific point and also give you insights into the technical elements of the project.
We will also introduce you to the people who are working diligently to ensure that the project is completed to the highest standards.
As an introduction, my name is Joe Murphy. I am the current project owner on the Clarecastle site having recently taken over from Gerry Cahill, who was the Managing Director and project owner.
![1f6f385546944ba9662d716792bd1a9d 1f6f385546944ba9662d716792bd1a9d](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/1f6f385546944ba9662d716792bd1a9d.png)
The Clarecastle Site
Roche Corporate Values
The Decommissioning Project
Project Phases / The Project in Pictures
Note: Project timelines are indicative only and subject to change based on regulatory requirements or Covid-19 restrictions/requirements.
![4542c1da2ab812baf73bb45d832a745f 4542c1da2ab812baf73bb45d832a745f](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/4542c1da2ab812baf73bb45d832a745f.png)
1. Clean to Shell
2. Demolition
3. Remediation
All phases of the project are managed by a Roche project team, led by the Project Manager; this team is supported by external contractors. All operations are being carried out to the highest safety and environmental standards.
Phase 1 - Clean to Shell
The first phase of the project, ‘Clean to Shell’ involved:
- Cleaning any residual contamination from the equipment, either in place or by removing it to a dedicated area for treatment;
- Removing the equipment and piping from the buildings using specialised mechanised equipment to ensure that the process was carried out in the safest possible manner as possible; and
- Sorting this material into various categories, for example, metal, timber etc., before transporting it off-site for recycling or disposal.
This phase was completed in June 2021.
![2ba5f0d6a9d1844802b2a3b66598bd3e Before](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2ba5f0d6a9d1844802b2a3b66598bd3e.png)
![2dfe0b20ac536c6bb2992058154f05ce After](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/2dfe0b20ac536c6bb2992058154f05ce.png)
![c7ee8d084682e58229583a60aacb1c62 Before](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/c7ee8d084682e58229583a60aacb1c62.jpg)
![1e0b639f900ac9c25182f65415732bb8 After](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/1e0b639f900ac9c25182f65415732bb8.png)
![7375c59d53c7cbdc3f1d3341308909b6 7375c59d53c7cbdc3f1d3341308909b6](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/7375c59d53c7cbdc3f1d3341308909b6.png)
![c1a96f50bb2edc7f216da4439e6a51fb Before](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/c1a96f50bb2edc7f216da4439e6a51fb.png)
![72082cd8425f6bc19e2457d96efe480c After](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/72082cd8425f6bc19e2457d96efe480c.png)
Aerial views of the Tank Farm and Contractors' Compound before and after demolition.
![cc1b5ada4de5229de600aac7e1db86c4 Before](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/cc1b5ada4de5229de600aac7e1db86c4.png)
![c47b7996af4bc8d9aa5e9c680d4ca75b After](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/c47b7996af4bc8d9aa5e9c680d4ca75b.png)
![9068f6b7b8d867d88976bf659c2dfb7c 9068f6b7b8d867d88976bf659c2dfb7c](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/9068f6b7b8d867d88976bf659c2dfb7c.png)
![1ddb894fde2394881e7c7c18ca5f3ec5 1ddb894fde2394881e7c7c18ca5f3ec5](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/1ddb894fde2394881e7c7c18ca5f3ec5.png)
Machinery used during the 'Clean to Shell' and 'Demolition' phases - Brokk demolition robot used to remove equipment from buildings (left) and high-reach machine being used during demolition (right).
Phase 2 – Demolition
The demolition phase is scheduled to be completed by March 2022.
Phase 3 - Remediation
A Changing Skyline
While the 'Clean to Shell' phase has not had any visual impact, the next phase, the 'Demolition' phase, will have a big impact, as the skyline that we have all been so familiar with over the past 45 years will change.
The photos below provide an example of the changes that can be expected once the 'Demolition' phase is completed towards the end of the year. The photos on the right show how the skyline view from the R458 will change.
![Roche May 2021 - before Pic-1 Roche May 2021 - before Pic-1](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roche-May-2021-before-Pic-1-scaled.jpg)
![Roche May 2021 - after Pic-1 Roche May 2021 - after Pic-1](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roche-May-2021-after-Pic-1-scaled.jpg)
![Roche May 2021 - before Pic-5 Roche May 2021 - before Pic-5](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roche-May-2021-before-Pic-5-scaled.jpg)
![Roche May 2021 - after Pic-5 Roche May 2021 - after Pic-5](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/Roche-May-2021-after-Pic-5-scaled.jpg)
Facilitating Clare Fire and Rescue Service Training
It was very fitting, given Roche Clarecastle’s long association with Clare Fire and Rescue Service, that we were able to respond to a request from Chief Fire Officer, Denis O’Connell, to facilitate a breathing apparatus (BA) training exercise in the now-empty Research & Administration (R&A) building on site. The unusual layout of the building was perfect for this type of training and marked the final use of the building.
![ca59bd0bf2436e76492b876dd4d359cf ca59bd0bf2436e76492b876dd4d359cf](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/ca59bd0bf2436e76492b876dd4d359cf.png)
![3ed27ad638863fcde21f7546e062aae7 3ed27ad638863fcde21f7546e062aae7](https://rocheclarecastle.ie/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/3ed27ad638863fcde21f7546e062aae7.png)