How to help prevent another bathing water ban at Mullaghmore
BUSINESSES AND VISITORS TO MULLAGHMORE SAY CATTLE ROAMING THE BE EACH IS IMPACTING QUALITY OF WATER BUT COUNCIL SAY ITS HANDS ARE TIED
HOLIDAYMAKERS Hugh and Lorraine Mannix are no strangers to Mullaghmore.
Every year the couple from Fermanagh rent the same holiday home overlooking the beach for five weeks during the summer.
Last Thursday morning as Lorraine, draped in a towel, walked up from her daily dip she was met with a small wooden sign. It had just been erected in the sand and read ‘Warning do not swim.’
This has come as no big surprise to Lorraine who admits the problem of poor water quality at Mullaghmore is an ongoing issue.
“The beach was closed to swimmers for a day earlier this summer in June. We had grave thoughts about whether we would come down on that day. I would swim every day at least once a day but I would think twice about it now,” said Lorraine.
Still dripping with sea water she adds: “I’m not going to start worrying about it now but I would prefer not to go in tomorrow.”
Her husband Hugh who has a boat in the quaint fishing harbour questioned what is causing the bacteria in the bathing water. He wondered if the cattle he sees every morning grazing on the strand has anything to do with it.
“Our house overlooks the beach and if you look down any morning you can see 30 to 40 cattle on the beach, some very close to the water’s edge. They are very docile and it’s nice to see them there,” said Hugh.
Further along the golden stretch of sand, a group of children are swimming in the horseshoe shaped bay as their parents look on.
Mothers Donna Downey and Linda Carlisle on a day trip from Fermanagh were not aware of the swimming ban just put in place by Sligo County Council. On hearing the news, they shouted at the kids to exit the water.
“We are made of hardy stuff,” joked Donna, “If they have got it they’ve got it by now.”
Another couple from Boyle noticed a man putting up the sign.
Maria Bently explained: “Paddling should be safe enough for them, hopefully but you’d rather not see notices like that.”
Her grandchild Patrick Regan (9) said: “It was fine but I swallowed some. It feels like a whole bottle of salt in one glass.”
His sister Jennifer though (5) made sure to keep her head above water.
Holidaymaker Aisling Sammon was disappointed to hear about the swimming ban.