Ballyloughane beach is finally open for bathing after several years of swimming bans — but many users will have to run a gauntlet of smelly, fly-infested mounds of seaweed to get there.
Independent Galway City Easr councillor, Terry O’Flaherty, has called on the Galway City Council to immediately clean up the access to the beach and the sunbathing area — the only one on the eastern side of the city — and give it the attention that other city beaches enjoy.
She said that she had contacted the Council in mid-April in an effort to have them remove piles of seaweed strewn across the ramp giving access to the beach which, due to the warm weather, has become very smelly.
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“The ramp is full of seaweed, making it impossible for wheelchair users or buggies to access the bathing area," she said. “It is imperative this beach is properly maintained as it is the only one east of the city and is widely used throughout the year. The seaweed has not been cleared up since last year and due to the warm weather it has become fly infested and I’m also getting many complaints about the stench coming from it.”
Councillor O’Flaherty added that when seaweed was left for a long time on the beach, it left the sand looking very dirty and unattractive when it’s removed.
'Little attention' given to Ballyloughane
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“Last weekend I know several people who visited the area had to walk some distance to find a stretch of beach where they could sit or sunbathe," she said. "There is no comparison with the look of any of the other beaches throughout the city — I feel it is very unfair that very little attention is given to this facility on the east side."
“With Covid-19 restrictions limiting the options for individuals and families to exercise and relax, it’s really important that they can use facilities like this. “I already contacted the City Council about this problem in the middle of April," she said. "I’m calling on them again to at least have the dirty seaweed removed as a matter of priority for now."
