The Kerryman (South Kerry Edition)
Dive board group to meet Council
FÁILTE Ireland’s inclusion of the diving boards at Fenit as a key attraction in its Wild Atlantic Display in the port will form part of the argument for the restoration of the boards by campaigners when they meet with Council officials shortly.
It appears the tourist body believes the boards are still up, and still bringing hordes out.
Members of the Restore Fenit Diving Boards Campaign secured the meeting as they push to have the diving boards put back in a move they believe will attract hundreds more to Fenit each summer.
Fenit had diving boards since the 1920s, until a legal suit in modern times led to the Council taking them down. A woman claimed she had been injured on the boards in 1999, sparking a controversy that resulted in the Council taking over the foreshore licence for the operation of the boards before removing them entirely to protect the authority from liability.
However, campaigners say that liability fears have been surmounted by the legal departments of other authorities, most notably in Clare where boards restored (in Kilkee) in June led to a resurgence of water-based activity in a boost for the area.
The meeting comes as positive news for a campaign that was official launched just before Christmas. Committee member Billy Ryle thanked Tralee Mayor Norma Foley for working to facilitate the event. At the meeting the committee will present the Council will a feasability study they say ‘encompasses a convincing argument for the immediate restoration of the diving boards in Fenit.’
“The presentation endorses Failte Ireland’s recognition of the diving boards as an integral component of Fenit’s aqua-tourist infrastructure on Kerry’s Wild Atlantic Way coastal route. The presentation is also fully compliant with Kerry County Council’s Tourism Strategy 2016 - 2022,” Mr Ryle said.
“The RFDBC Committee is extremely grateful to the general public for the overwhelming support for the campaign since it was launch before Christmas.”