*Swimmers in Cappa. Photograph: John Mangan
CALLS HAVE been made for the provision of “environmentally friendly outdoor showers” at Cappa and White Strand (Doonbeg).
In a proposal before the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Rita McInerney (FF) encouraged the local authority to “identify suitable locations at Cappa Pier and White Strand, Doonbeg along with costings, for environmentally friendly outdoor showers”.
Senior executive officer in the West Clare MD, John O’Malley acknowledged, “There has been a noticeable increase in the number of swimmers and dippers using locations such as Cappa and White Strand, Doonbeg in recent years. There have been some improvements to these areas with works carried out at the public facilities in Cappa and foot showers in the White Strand”.
O’Malley advised, “There is a longer-term plan around the Cappa Enhancement Strategy which includes future improvements to facilities but in the shorter term the MD are currently assessing the possibility of installing environmentally friendly outdoor showers at this location. Seasonal temporary facilities are provided at White Strand, Doonbeg. The provision of additional environmentally friendly outdoor showers at this location are also being considered”.
A rise in the popularity of swimming all-year round was referenced by Cllr McInerney. “We need to provide those services because it is something we sell on the coast and in Clare with the beaches we have, make it more inviting for people to shower off or whatever at the end, ensure it is clean and safe”.
Seconding the proposal, Cllr Ian Lynch (IND) recalled that he worked with Council officials on a funding application to upgrade Cappa but the potential of an outdoor shower has “split” swimmers with sixty percent for and forty percent against. “There’s pros and cons, there’s a lot of work to do, before we do it make sure it is what they want,” he said. “We have forty people coming to Cappa on a Sunday, they are coming from East Clare and all, we never thought we’d see the day,” the Kilrush representative added.
Also growing in popularity is the use of sauna services before or after people go for a swim in Clare, Cllr McInerney said, “I do it myself a lot in Kilkee” while further putting forward the cause for outdoor showers. “People in the wellness space are organising yoga and hikes around the sauna element, if you have the facilities there to shower off for a yoga session or coming back from a hike, shower off and then go for a sauna”.
Kilkee has experienced issues with toilets not opening on busy weekends, Cllr Lynch flagged. “They weren’t open for St Patrick’s weekend,” Cllr McInerney noted. “The main ones were,” O’Malley replied but the Cathaoirleach of the West Clare MD said the toilets at the pier in Kilkee remained shut. “We are working on a solution to have ones in Cappa open all year around,” O’Malley said, he added, “at the pier in Kilkee we’ve just got extra staff and it will be open”.
