Restrictions lifted on swimming at two north Dublin beaches
Samples collected by the authority on Wednesday, August 13, showed water quality at the two locations was now 'excellent'.
Following consultation with the HSE, Fingal County Council decided to lift the restrictions on bathing.
The news comes as the country looks set for a warm weekend ahead, with temperatures set to hit up to 27C.
Saturday in particular is looking like a hot, dry day, likely to entice many Dubliners out and onto their local beaches.
Until the recent restrictions, Rush South beach was classified as having 'excellent' water quality so far during the 2025 bathing season, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's beaches.ie website.
Water quality at Portrane was classed as either 'excellent' or 'good'.
The most recent samples taken on Balbriggan, Front Strand beach on August 11 returned a result of 'excellent' water quality.
Sandymount Strand has a no-swim restriction which has been in place for the entire 2025 season.
The public can usually check water quality at the 153 bathing waters across Ireland in advance by accessing beaches.ie, but there is a service disruption today preventing updates.
Each beach also has a notice board which highlights the water status.
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Irish Independent
3 days ago
- Irish Independent
Restrictions lifted on swimming at two north Dublin beaches
The 'do not swim' notices were introduced by Fingal County Council on August 9 following a sewage overflow at the nearby pump station. Samples collected by the authority on Wednesday, August 13, showed water quality at the two locations was now 'excellent'. Following consultation with the HSE, Fingal County Council decided to lift the restrictions on bathing. The news comes as the country looks set for a warm weekend ahead, with temperatures set to hit up to 27C. Saturday in particular is looking like a hot, dry day, likely to entice many Dubliners out and onto their local beaches. Until the recent restrictions, Rush South beach was classified as having 'excellent' water quality so far during the 2025 bathing season, according to the Environmental Protection Agency's website. Water quality at Portrane was classed as either 'excellent' or 'good'. The most recent samples taken on Balbriggan, Front Strand beach on August 11 returned a result of 'excellent' water quality. Sandymount Strand has a no-swim restriction which has been in place for the entire 2025 season. The public can usually check water quality at the 153 bathing waters across Ireland in advance by accessing but there is a service disruption today preventing updates. Each beach also has a notice board which highlights the water status.
Irish Examiner
08-08-2025
- Irish Examiner
Losing ground: coastal erosion in Ireland and what we can do about it
Ireland's 7,500km coastline is one of our country's greatest natural treasures — an ever-changing ribbon of cliffs, beaches, dunes, and estuaries — and islands — that shapes not only our geography but also our cultural identity. Yet, from Donegal to Dingle, an invisible enemy is chipping away at the edges: coastal erosion. Every winter storm, every rising tide, is part of a slow but persistent process of transformation. Entire sections of coast are disappearing into the sea. And while erosion is a natural process, it's now accelerating due to human activity and climate change. The question we face is no longer if we should act, but how. Nature on the move Coastal erosion refers to the wearing away of land by the sea. Waves, currents, and winds gradually remove soil, sand, and rock from the shoreline. In places where natural buffers such as sand dunes, saltmarshes, or wetlands are intact, erosion is usually slow and cyclical. But when these protective features are damaged, or when sea levels rise and storms intensify, erosion speeds up dramatically. Rock armour and gabion basket protection work at Ballybunion beach near the golf course coastline. In Ireland, we are already seeing the impacts. Some of the most high-profile cases have made headlines in recent years. At Portrane in north County Dublin, residents have seen their gardens, and in some cases entire homes, fall into the sea. In Lahinch, County Clare, and Rosslare Strand, Wexford, beaches have narrowed significantly, impacting tourism and local livelihoods. County Kerry's Inch Strand, famous for its long sandy spit, is now being monitored closely after major storm damage. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that 20–30% of Ireland's soft (non-rocky) coastline, such as sandy beaches and dunes, is vulnerable to erosion. Sea level around our coasts has risen by roughly 3-4 mm per year over the past three decades, and future projections suggest that this rate will accelerate. More extreme and frequent storm surges, such as Storms Ophelia, Emma, and Barra, compound the problem. Coastal Development One major challenge is how we've developed the coast. Holiday homes, caravan parks, golf courses, and roads are often built just metres from the shoreline, leaving little room for natural systems to adapt. Concrete sea walls and rock armour are used as defences, but they can sometimes worsen erosion elsewhere, disrupting the natural flow of sediment. Sand dunes which have been damaged by coastal erosion at Rossbeigh beach in Kerry. Picture: Dan Linehan Traditional 'hard' coastal protection measures are expensive and not always effective in the long term. For example, when waves crash against a sea wall, the energy is reflected downward and sideways, often eroding the base or neighbouring shorelines. As the sea keeps rising, defences have to be raised or reinforced, creating a costly cycle of maintenance. It's time for a smarter approach — one that works with nature, not against it. Solutions on the horizon Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) offer a promising way forward. Instead of trying to outbuild the ocean, we can restore and strengthen natural coastal defences. This includes: · Dune restoration. Stabilising sand dunes using native grasses and fencing to trap sand can buffer wave energy and provide critical habitats. · Saltmarsh and wetland protection. These act as natural sponges, absorbing storm surges and reducing flooding inland. Rewetting drained marshes helps them recover. · Managed retreat. In some places, the most sustainable option is to allow the coastline to shift naturally by relocating vulnerable infrastructure inland. · Living shorelines. These hybrid systems use a mix of vegetation, oyster reefs, and biodegradable materials to reduce erosion while supporting marine biodiversity. Rosslare strand damaged by coast erosion. Irish Examiner (then Cork Examiner) Wednesday, March 11, 1959 Projects like the OPW's Coastal Monitoring Programme, and local authorities such as Wexford County Council, are beginning to integrate these softer engineering techniques. At the European level, Ireland is part of coastal adaptation programmes under the Climate Action Plan and Horizon Europe projects. But more investment and coordination are needed. A recent report by the Climate Change Advisory Council noted the lack of a comprehensive, national coastal adaptation strategy. Without one, responses remain piecemeal and reactive. Communities on the front line Coastal erosion is not just a scientific issue, it's a social one. People living in vulnerable coastal areas often feel ignored or unsupported. Insurance may not cover erosion damage. Planning policies may restrict rebuilding after loss but offer little support for relocation. Emotional ties to place, such as family homes, heritage, livelihoods, are difficult to let go of. Public engagement is crucial. We need open conversations about trade-offs and priorities. Some areas will require robust defences; others may need to be given back to the sea. Local knowledge and citizen science can play a key role in shaping fair and resilient responses. Heritage Council chairperson, Dr Martina Moloney, and chief executive, Virginia Teehan, at Heritage Horizons: Pathways to the Future, a national conference hosted by the Heritage Council at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin in May, 2025. Dr Moloney and Ms Teehan are pictured alongside an image of the Illauntannig Monastic Site in Kerry, which is at significant risk from coastal erosion. Picture: Marc O'Sullivan Holding the line or letting go? We must accept that we cannot 'hold the line' everywhere. The coast has never been fixed; it has always moved. But with the added stress of climate change, the pace of change is now outstripping our capacity to respond. Adapting to coastal erosion means rethinking how we value and use our coast, not just as a boundary, but as a living, transient system. To live with erosion is to let go of the illusion of permanence. With science to guide us, communities to ground us, and leadership to drive us, we can respond not with fear, but with foresight. Ireland's story has always been written at the edge of the sea. Let the next chapter be one of adaptation. The sea may be rising, but with the right approach, so too can our resilience.
The Irish Sun
02-08-2025
- The Irish Sun
Urgent ‘do not use' Storm Floris warning for Irish parents over bank holiday as bouncy castle & playground risk revealed
A MAJOR Bouncy castle alert has been issued to Irish parents before Storm Floris hits the country this bank holiday weekend. The 2 Storm Floris will hit Ireland from around 2am on Monday morning 2 And the HSE has now issued a bouncy castle alert to Irish parents Credit: E+ - Getty The northwest looks set to be worst-hit, with the storm expected to track there through Sunday night and Monday morning, before tracking over Scotland. Met Eireann warned the public to expect "dangerous travelling conditions, outdoor events may be impacted, structural damage, fallen trees, debris and loose objects, power outages and wave overtopping". And now Health bosses urged that they should never be used in storms, strong winds or heavy rain. READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS Playground equipment is also off-limits in these They said: "Make sure a bouncy castle is installed by an expert. Follow their instructions for its use. "Do not use a bouncy castle in bad weather. This includes during strong winds, storms or heavy rain. "Keep the area around the bouncy castle clear in case a child jumps or falls off. Watch bigger children around smaller children - they could knock them over." MOST READ ON THE IRISH SUN If you're using a bouncy castle in better weather, make sure it's set up by a professional and follow all their And even when it's dry, the HSE says children should never be left alone on play equipment. Terrifying moment bouncy castle takes off in freak windstorm flying 40ft into air sending school children plunging Weather chiefs warned Storm Floris will bring "very strong and blustery southwest winds veering westerly, with some damaging gusts". A yellow wind warning for Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo will be on alert for heavy rain and potential lightning damage from 2am until 10am on Monday. And Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan and Leitrim will be under a slightly later Status Yellow wind warning, in place from 4am on Monday. Met Eireann yesterday urged the public to take extreme care due to the latest major weather event striking over the August bank holiday weekend. 'Take extreme care' They said "an unusually strong jet stream for the time of year will carry the system towards Ireland through the weekend, with the storm deepening rapidly". Forecaster Andrew Doran-Sherlock said: "Storm Floris will bring a spell of wet and unseasonably windy weather, particularly for northwestern areas, through Sunday night and into Monday. "However, there is still some uncertainty in the details so the full impacts of the system cannot yet be determined. "By Saturday though, the event will be within the range of our high-resolution DINI forecasting model and warnings will be issued.' Meteorologist Holly O'Neill said Saturday's weather will be mainly dry before the She said: "Our bank holiday weekend is looking to bring some mixed weather over the next few days but a good amount of dry spells and some rain at times. "The most impactful of our weather will be over Sunday night and into Monday morning, when Storm Floris tracks to the north of Ireland, bringing rather wet and windy weather which will make for some difficult travelling conditions at times for people, particularly in the north and northwest so please take care. "Saturday is looking to be mostly dry across the country with plenty of sunny spells, the best of which will be over the eastern half of the country while it will be cloudier further west. "For the afternoon and evening, rain and drizzle will move across west and northwest counties with highs of 17C to 23C, the warmest of those again being in the east in just light to moderate southwest winds."
