3 days ago
'No climbing' signs erected at Dalkey Quarry
Mountaineering Ireland has said it is engaging with Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council after the erection of no climbing signs at one of the most popular sites in Ireland for rock climbers.
The signs appeared recently at Dalkey Quarry and the local authority said it "has prohibited rock climbing activities at Dalkey Quarry, effective immediately".
"This decision has been taken as a precautionary measure pending the completion of a comprehensive safety assessment at the site," said the council.
The quarry has been used by rock climbers for decades and has more than 300 recorded climbing routes.
Mountaineering Ireland CEO Liam Feeley said the majority of his organisation's climber members use the area and it is an important venue for any climber in Leinster.
He told RTÉ News he did not know what had prompted the council's decision.
Mr Feeley said Mountaineering Ireland is working with council officials and he added that changes to the Owners Liability Act, which came into effect in 2023, reduces the liability of the council to claims by climbers if they suffer an injury.
The Act now provides a defence of voluntary assumption of risk, as a visitor or recreational user of an area can be judged by their words or actions to have accepted a risk and that would leave the owner with no liability.
Representatives of Mountaineering Ireland hope to meet council officials before the end of the month to find a resolution "that will work for everyone", added Mr Feeley.
