*Photograph: John Mangan
SIXTEEN beach operatives will be employed by Clare County Council in North and West Clare during the 2024 summer season.
Within the Ennistymon local electoral area, a total of twelve beach operatives will be employed during this year’s summer season focusing on the upkeep of facilities and welcoming visitors to Spanish Point, White Strand (Miltown Malbay), Lahinch, Doolin and Fanore.
Contracts for each of the twelve will vary explained acting senior executive officer in the West Clare Municipal District, John Corry but he confirmed six have commenced work already, some of which since March 1st and other contracts will run until the end of October. He said, “In effect our ‘season’ is now eight months in duration”.
Corry outlined, “Each beach operative will work in conjunction with existing Clare County Council staff to ensure our facilities are maintained to a high standard. On rotation, a total of eight staff from our roads crews are deployed full time, seven days a week, to beach maintenance, provision of toilet facilities and litter control during the season to emphasise the prioritisation that we place on effective beach maintenance. As part of the Doolin Pier Bye Laws 2017 a Harbour Master is required when ferries are in operation. Two Harbour Masters are engaged to provide this service seven days a week between March and October inclusive”.
Across the Kilrush local electoral area, four beach operatives will be employed for the summer season, two of these started in time for the May Bank Holiday weekend with the remaining two to be on duty prior to the June Bank Holiday weekend.
Senior executive officer in the West Clare MD, John O’Malley outlined, “At present it is envisaged that they will be assigned primarily to Kilkee, but they will also be assigned to our other beaches, Cappagh (Blue Flag), White Strand Doonbeg (Blue Flag), Carrigaholt (Green Coast) and Seafield (Green Coast)”. He added, “An additional resource will be in place to carry out regular beach clean ups and maintenance in the Seafield area. Our town crew in Kilrush open and maintain the public toilets in Cappagh and ensure that the area is kept free of litter. In addition staff from our roads crews are assigned to beach duties occasionally, which increases during the main summer season, especially if the weather is favourable”.
Staff from the roads crew in West Clare are also deployed full time, seven days a week, to beach maintenance, provision of toilet facilities and litter control during the season plus the Community Warden, Traffic and Litter warden will be assigned to the beaches for the summer.
Detail on the support for coastal beach maintenance and litter controls for the summer season had been sought by Cllr Joe Garrihy (FG). He was hopeful of a busy season along the west coast of Clare. “It is really important that the resources are put in place and people kept on-side,” he stated while welcoming the resources. “We want to see that enhanced and brought to an even better quality”.
Speaking at Tuesday’s meeting of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Cillian Murphy (FF) observed “The response is clearly highlighting the poor relation is in Kilrush, we’re looking at twelve versus four, a March start versus May”. He said his phone was “ringing off the hook” because the toilets weren’t open at the weekend in Kilkee, we’re only looking for parity, it’s great to look up the road and see the staffing in place”.
Offering to count the amount of beaches in North Clare for his colleagues, Cllr Shane Talty (FF) noted, “it’s an accumulation of work over the years”. He said Lahinch had “big numbers” last weekend and wished all business “that are so reliant on the tourist season” the best of luck.
Resources in West Clare need to increase, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) felt while pointing out “there is a lot of activity” in the area.
Appointments for North Clare were positive, Cllr Joe Killeen (FF) said. “Staff in Lahinch seem to work all day on the fine days that people are enjoying themselves,” he observed.
“I apologies for highlighting the fact that the North Clare councillors are so much effective than the West Clare councillors,” quipped Cllr Garrihy. “That’s five years of working together down the swanny,” retorted Cllr Murphy. “We’re not in the Ennis MD, we get on very well,” remarked Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) while Cllr Talty had the final remark, “It was remiss of me not to welcome Cllr Garrihy from his ten days canvassing in Graceland”.
