‘Defecating on swings and slides at playground on Kerry beauty spot’

A KERRY county councillor has called for a permanent beach officer to monitor anti-social behaviour after witnessing what he claimed were “itinerants” destroying a children’s play park in Rossbeigh Strand.

Glenbeigh-based Councillor Michael Cahill tabled the motion at Monday’s council meeting. He said Kerry has the best beaches in Europe, but when he witnessed people in Rossbeigh Strand over the summer going to the toilet in the children’s play park and defecating on slides and swings, he decided to table a motion appealing for more regulation.

“They were itinerants,” he said. However, Cathaoirlach of Kerry County Council, Norma Foley, interjected at this point to remind Cllr Cahill that no one group of people should be identified within the chamber.

Cllr Cahill responded, claiming people are being abused. “They went to the toilet in the playground and defecated on the equipment. They also abused council employees and broke the guards’ hearts this year. But when people are not respecting people, I’m calling on the council to strengthen the beach laws.”

Cllr Cahill added that parking, public-toilet standards, and illegal camping would also come under the remit of a Beach Officer – as would working with school children in educating them on beach clean ups. The Beach Officer’s goal would be to improve the beaches and make them the ‘best all-round beaches in Europe’, according to Cllr Cahill.

In response, the council said it recognises the huge importance of beaches in the county and re-affirmed its commitment to upgrading facilities.

It said it conducts a review at the end of each season to assess how best to address issues. It stressed the summer in 2018 was the best in many years, resulting in ‘substantially increased activity levels’ and visitor numbers on all beaches.