Fresh calls are being made for increased supervision of Clare’s beaches, with the current bathing season model being condemned as “outdated”.
It follows an incident which took place at Lahinch beach at the weekend, in which a number of swimmers got into difficulty.
Surfers came to the rescue once again in Lahinch on Sunday, as three teenagers taking a dip in the warm weather, found themselves trapped a rip current, while there were no lifeguards on duty.
All three were brought to safety unharmed, though the incident has sparked renewed calls for the operating hours of Clare’s lifeguard service to be extended.
Last summer, Clare became the first county in the Republic to provide lifeguards at beaches towards the end of May.
The official bathing season in Ireland spans from June 1st to September 15th, but lifeguards will be operating at weekends at Lahinch, Spanish Point, Kilkee and Fanore from this coming weekend.
Lahinch Green Party Councillor Liam Grant, who previously served as a lifeguard, believes Ireland needs to move in line the UK as regards beach supervision.
From June 1st, full-time lifeguards will be in place at Lahinch, Spanish Point, Fanore and Kilkee from 11am to 7pm each day.
During the same hours at weekends in June, including the bank holiday Monday, the lifeguard stations at White Strand Miltown Malbay, Doonbeg, Cappagh, Ballyalla, Mountshannon and Killaloe will be operational.
July and August will see all beaches with a lifeguard station in the county fully-supervised, while in September, Lahinch, Spanish Point, Fanore, Kilkee, White Strand Miltown Malbay, Doonbeg, Cappagh, Mountshannon and Killaloe will be lifeguarded for the first two weekends.
Lahinch surf instructor Richard Brangwyn insists that lifeguards are needed year-round though, due to the popularity of swimming in this day and age.
In a statement to Clare FM, Clare County Council says however that it’s “not practicable to have a year-round lifeguard service” as the sea conditions are “not conducive to delivering a safe and consistent lifeguarded swimming activity”.
The statement continues “the availability of lifeguards would also be a major factor” as lifeguards are “typically drawn from a student cohort who are only available for the summer months”.
Owner of Ollie’s Surf Academy in Lahinch, Ollie O’Flaherty who was among the surfers to assist in the rescue over the weekend insists more education is needed on water safety, saying when it comes to beach use, knowledge is power.
You can listen to the full interview here:
