Irish Independent

Naturists in drive for more nudist beaches

- Laura Lynott

A NATURIST group is preparing to lobby councils across Ireland in a move that could see nudist beaches in every county.

Currently there is only one official nudist beach in Ireland – Hawk Cliff beach in Dalkey, Dún Laoghaire, Dublin.

But if the Irish Naturist Associatio­n (INA) has its way, there will be official nudist beaches dotted across the country.

Pat Gallagher, from the INA, said: “There are plenty of unofficial beaches being used by nudists.

“Corballis in Donabate, north Co Dublin, and Sallymount in Co Wicklow, have been used by nudists for many years. And there’s beaches across Wexford and Waterford and round to Galway and Clare.”

Hawk Cliff has been recognised as a naturistfr­iendly beach and a sign has been erected by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council to alert beach-goers that there may be nudists.

The INA lobbied the local authority for the sign in the wake of a new law – the Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 2017 – which states that for an offence to be committed, the person exposing himself or herself must intend to “cause fear, distress or alarm to another person”.

Being naked in public is not illegal under this law if it does not negatively affect the public.

The group has taken this opportunit­y to start lobbying more councils for similar signs.

Mr Gallagher said: “We’re approachin­g many other councils, as the law has been updated. At the moment we have submission­s in with Wicklow County Council for Sallymount and Magheramor­e beaches. We have sent off to Galway County Council too.

“By putting up signage, it doesn’t make a beach just designated for nudists, it just warns the public they may see nudists. It’s all to protect the nudist from prosecutio­n, it’s better for us to have a sign warning people that we are safe.

“Clothing is optional, we have no intent to take over any beach or area, if people want to walk or lie down with clothing on, that’s OK with us.”

Beaches traditiona­lly used by naturists include the Forty Foot in Dún Laoghaire, Curracloe in Co Wexford, Caliso Bay in Co Waterford and Kilkee Beach in Co Clare.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from Ireland