IT WAS A SIZZLING BANK HOLIDAY AS TEMP HIT 27C!
COVID-19 RESTRICTIONS MEANT POPULAR BEACHES WERE QUIET
The June bank holiday weekend just passed, in an ordinary set of circumstances, would have been a bumper few days for the seaside areas around Sligo.
With temperatures in the high 20s, it was a challenging weekend for many businesses who would have experienced a major surge with tourists flocking to seaside areas to bask in the glorious sunshine.
While the restrictions that are in place curtailed the extent to which beaches were crowded, there were some reports of visitors and tourists breaking the 5k restriction to travel to Sligo.
It was a scorching week-end with temperatures peaking at 27 degrees on Sunday and Monday making it the hottest time of the year so far.
While the beaches at Rosses Point, Strandhill, Mullaghmore and Enniscrone were busy, the numbers were well down on what normally would be expected with temperatures so high.
There’s no planned change in the 5k travel limit for another week so sun worshippers and those looking for a dip in the sea who didn’t live close to the coast had to remain at home.
In Enniscrone, usually a hugely popular location in good weather, it was a quieter weekend than it might otherwise have been, though there did appear to be some visitors from outside of the 5k limit.
The restrictions do not apply to those living in Northern Ireland and its citizens can come and go as they wish to the south.
In soaring temperatures on Saturday and Sunday, the beach in the west Sligo village was relatively quiet.
The peak of the tourist season usually arrives later in the summer, and it remains to be seen whether or not an easing of the restrictions will allow more visitors later in the summer.
There have been reports in recent days that there could be an acceleration of the easing of restrictions in response to a growing belief that a return to some sort of normality should happen somewhat quicker than is set out in the government’s Roadmap for Reopening Society and Business.
Meanwhile, clarity has been brought to the operation of ice cream vans and whether or not owners were allowed to trade again.
Ice cream vans are allowed to operate if they can adhere to the guidelines as specified by the Food Safety Authority of Ireland.
Cllr Marie Casserly says that she received clarification on the matter after consultation with the relevant authorities. It is understood that ice cream vans are considered to fall under the category of an outdoor food market stall, and therefore are able to trade as long as social distancing and other safety measures are implemented.