Council to review Ballymoney signage
SUCCESSFUL CALL TO ACTION FOLLOWING A RESCUE AT THE BEACH
Wexford County Council has carried out an on-site review of safety signage at Ballymoney following the rescue of three young children from drowning at the north beach, as reported in last week’s Gorey Guardian.
A spokesperson said that monitoring and reviewing safety signage at beaches is something the council regularly does throughout the county, but that this time the team would meet the individual (Lorraine Harrington) who raised concern about the rocks.
Lorraine and her husband Michael recently rescued three children, aged between ten and eleven years old, after they got into difficulty in the water near the rocks at the beach.
As it was a weekday when this happened, no life guard was on duty at the time.
Speaking to this newspaper last week about the rescue, Lorraine said that it was just luck that they, as experienced swimmers, were there to spring into action when they saw the children were in distress.
A spokesperson for Wexford County Council said that hiring of full time lifeguards for the month of June was considered when beach car-parks opened back up on June 8.
‘Wexford County Council lifeguards have been in place at our Blue Flag beaches (including Ballymoney) during weekends since Saturday, June 13. With effect from tomorrow (July 1), this lifeguarding services will be extended to operate on a seven day basis.
‘This was considered in advance of the re-opening. However, it was decided to continue the normal timetable of beach lifeguards (weekends only during June) but that we would monitor the situation and be in a position to deploy lifeguards outside of these times should the need arise,’ the spokesperson said.
Mrs Harrington said that she was amazed by the quick and positive response from all concerned.