Denise O’Donoghue looks at a Kerry County Council initiative to make the beaches accessible to all and asks coastal councils nationwide about opening up our shorelines to wheelchair users.
As the recent heatwave took hold of the country, many Irish people flocked to their nearest beach to soak up the sun. However, a significant number of people are unable to enjoy the same pleasure.
Wheelchair users are no doubt familiar with the struggles of travelling across uneven surfaces, and there are few terrains as challenging as a sandy, rocky beach.
To open up our shorelines to more members of the public, many counties now offer a free beach wheelchair service. Wexford was the first county to introduce beach wheelchairs.
A beach wheelchair has wider wheels which allow it to move easily over sand and even float in water. The two styles available around the country are Hippocampe chairs and DeBug chairs.
Kerry woman Kathleen O’Sullivan and her teenage daughter, Hannah, were glad to see a Hippocampe chair introduced to their local beach.
Hannah uses the beach wheelchair at Ballinskelligs often and has enjoyed visiting her local beach more frequently since it was introduced last year.
“It’s great to see it coming to beaches around the country,” Kathleen said.
She said Hannah, 15, has been making the most of her summer with her friends. During a recent spell in Irish college, Hannah was able to play games on the beach in the evenings.
“She wasn’t left out of anything. She was there three days last week alone,” Kathleen added.
Before the Hippocampe chair was introduced to the area, the O’Sullivan family could only visit the edge of the beach.
“It’s impossible to push a normal wheelchair through sand. We were only able to go to the top of the beach and look down. Now with the beach buggy we can walk the whole length of the beach no bother.” Kathleen hopes more people become aware of the beach wheelchair in Ballinskelligs and further afield.
“I’d like to see it used more often, I think maybe people don’t know about it or don’t realise it’s for adult use too. It would be great to see more people using it. There are lots of tourists coming to the area and lots of people with limited mobility could use it too.”
The Disability Federation of Ireland agrees that accessible beaches could be a boost for tourism.
“Accessible tourism is a lucrative niche market which is yet to be fully exploited in Ireland,” a spokesperson said. It is estimated that one in five tourists visiting Europe will have some disability or mobility difficulties by 2020.”
Enable Ireland also welcomes the increasing number of beach wheelchairs being made available around the country.
“Any measures which allow visitors with disabilities or mobility restrictions easier access to beaches is positive,” said a spokesperson for Enable Ireland.
As the number of beaches offering the initiate continues to grow, the Irish Examiner reached out to each local authority along the coast to see what measures are in place to provide equal access to Ireland’s beautiful beaches.
Dublin:
Beach wheelchairs are available to reserve at:
- Balcarrick Beach, Donabate. A Hippocampe chair is available all year by contacting the Waterside House Hotel on 01 8436153;
- Velvet Strand Beach, Portmarnock. Hippocampe chair is available by contacting 086 8222646;
- South Beach, Skerries. A DeBug chair is available at the Lifeguard Huts. The service is available by contacting 086 8090153;
- Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown County Council is piloting an all-terrain wheelchair at Killiney beach.
Limited access is available at the following Dublin beaches:
- Claremont Beach, Howth;
- Dollymount Strand;
- Killiney;
- South Beach, Rush.
Louth:
There is a beach wheelchair at Clogherhead beach from Celtic Canoes at 085 8758092.
Additionally, there is an an accessible pathway at Templetown beach.
Meath:
There are no beach wheelchairs currently in use in Meath.
Meath County Council has confirmed that provision is to be made for beach wheelchairs at Bettystown/Laytown, which is the county’s most frequently used beach.
Wexford:
Beach wheelchairs are available at eight beaches:
- Carne Beach: A beach wheelchair is available from June to August inclusive each year by contacting 053 9131131;
- Courtown: A beach wheelchair is available for use on North Beach by contacting Seal Rescue Ireland at 053 9424980 or 087 7495538;
- Curracloe: Wheelchair users at White Gap can contact The Surf Shack at 053 9137679 or 087 7519194 between May and October to reserve a beach wheelchair;
- Duncannon: From June to August inclusive, a beach wheelchair is available by contacting Water Sports Centre at 087 6103224;
- Morriscastle: A beach wheelchair can be reserved by contacting Lawler’s Shop at 053 9130334 between June and Aug inclusive each year;
- Rosslare Strand: A De Bug beach wheelchair in Rosslare can be booked by ringing Centra, Strand Road at 053 9173060;
- Kilmore Quay: To book a beach wheelchair, contact the Stella Maris Center at 053 9129922 from June to August;
- Ballinesker: A beach wheelchair can be reserved from Curracloe Holiday Villas, Ballinesker by contacting 053-9137241 from July to August.
Wicklow:
There is a boardwalk available at Bray South Promenade. Disability Access is available at Greystones South beach along the promenade only.
Clare:
There are no beach wheelchairs available in Co Clare.
A number of beaches have limited access, including:
- Ballycuggeran, Killaloe;
- Mountshannon;
- Lahinch;
- Whitestrand at Miltown;
- Spanish Point;
- Kilkee;
- Whitestrand at Doonbeg.
Cork:
Cork County Council has confirmed there are accessible routes to Claycastle, Youghal and The Warren, Rosscarbery.
The county council told the Irish Examiner it is “committed to improving the accessibility of our beaches so that all can enjoy the many fantastic beaches around Cork County”.
The council has a beach wheelchair which will be available at The Warren Beach, Rosscarbery, on a trial basis.
Elsewhere, limited access is available at
- Ballyrisode;
- Barley Cove;
- Cadogans Strand, Schull;
- Fountainstown,
- Galley Cove;
- Garnish;
- Garretstown;
- Garryvoe;
- Oysterhaven;
- Red Strand;
- Redbarn;
- Rocky Bay;
- Tragumna;
- Youghal Front Strand Beach.
Further booking details will be available at www.corkcoco.ie or 023 8833380 in the coming weeks.
Kerry:
Kerry County Council has provided beach wheelchairs at the following Blue Flag beaches: Ballinskelligs; Inch; Ballybunion.
In addition, moveable matting is provided at Ballinskelligs and Ballyheigue to allow wheelchair users access the beach.
Waterford:
There are no beach wheelchairs available in Co Waterford.
A beach ramp is available at
- Ardmore Beach;
- Bunmahon Beach;
- Clonea Beach;
- Dunmore Strand;
- Dunmore East;
- Kilfarrassey;
- Newtown Cove;
- Tramore Beach;
- Whiting Bay.
Galway:
Ability West, Galway run a beach accessible wheelchair program for beaches in the city.
They are available from Leisureland, Salthill, Galway at 091 540900.
Galway County Council said it is advancing plans to provide a beach wheelchair at An Trá Mór, Knock, Inverin beach.
Partially accessible beaches include
- Ballyloughane Beach;
- Bathing Place at Portumna;
- Céibh an Spidéil;
- East End Inisbofin;
- Esker, Banagher;
- Grattan Road Beach;
- Omey Island Strand;
- Renvyle;
- Salthill Beach;
- Silverstrand Beach;
- Trá Poll na gCaorach, Inis Oirr;
- Traught, Kinvara.
Mayo:
There is limited access to a number of beaches.
- Bertra Beach, Murrisk;
- Carrowmore Beach;
- Clare Island, Louisburgh;
- Dooega Beach, Achill Island;
- Dugort Beach, Achill Island;
- Elly Bay, Belmullet;
- Golden Strand, Achill Island;
- Keel Beach, Achill Island;
- Keem Beach, Achill Island;
- Mulranny Beach;
- Old Head Beach, Louisburgh;
- Ross Beach, Killala.
Sligo:
Sligo County Council confirmed the county’s first beach wheelchair has been used at Enniscrone.
“We have just recently had our first beach wheelchair out in Enniscrone, and this is being done in conjunction with Sligo Sports & Recreation Partnership and a business operating in the area,” a spokesperson said.
“It is still early days yet, and we have a few things to sort out, but we hope to have this fully up and running within the next couple of weeks.”
They are in talks with the Irish Wheelchair Association about providing the charity with a beach wheelchair.
“The idea here is to allow wheelchair users to try out the beach wheelchair and to see where they might suggest would be a good place to provide such a facility on a more permanent basis.”
There is limited access at Mullaghmore Beach and Rosses Point.
Donegal:
A beach wheelchair is available at four beaches.
- Carrickfinn;
- Downings;
- Marble Hill;
- Rathmullan.
There is limited access at the following beaches:
- Bundoran;
- Culdaff;
- Fintra;
- Ladys Bay;
- Lisfannon;
- Murvagh;
- Naran Portnoo;
- Port Arthur;
- Port na Blagh;
- Rossnowlagh;
- Stroove.
