By Tim Binnall
A beach in Ireland that had reappeared after vanishing 35 years ago has once again disappeared. The stretch of sand on Achill Island sparked headlines around the world in May of 2017 when a massive storm swept over the area and restored the beach that had been washed away back in 1984. At the time, many area residents celebrated their good fortune and expressed hope that the beach was back for good.
Alas, like a summer romance, the return of the beach was fleeting as a series of storms over the last few months reportedly obliterated the once-sandy spot and revealed the craggy surface which sat beneath it. Having lost the beach once before, it would appear that this turn of events did not take the community by surprise. "It was great while we had it," one resident said, "but there was an air of inevitability about it going."
Be that as it may, the brief appearance by the beach seemingly proved to be something of a boon for the community as the story generated a considerable amount of publicity which translated into an uptick in visitors to the area. To that end, the local tourism office said that they saw a whopping 71% increase in visitors after the story of the beach's return made the news. Fortunately for residents longing for a return to the days when the revived shoreline was the talk of the town, it may only take a few storms headed in the right direction to bring back the displaced sand.