New Events

National

no events posted in last week

Blog Feeds

Anti-Empire

Anti-Empire

offsite link The Wholesome Photo of the Month Thu May 09, 2024 11:01 | Anti-Empire

offsite link In 3 War Years Russia Will Have Spent $3... Thu May 09, 2024 02:17 | Anti-Empire

offsite link UK Sending Missiles to Be Fired Into Rus... Tue May 07, 2024 14:17 | Marko Marjanović

offsite link US Gives Weapons to Taiwan for Free, The... Fri May 03, 2024 03:55 | Anti-Empire

offsite link Russia Has 17 Percent More Defense Jobs ... Tue Apr 30, 2024 11:56 | Marko Marjanović

Anti-Empire >>

The Saker
A bird's eye view of the vineyard

offsite link Alternative Copy of thesaker.is site is available Thu May 25, 2023 14:38 | Ice-Saker-V6bKu3nz
Alternative site: https://thesaker.si/saker-a... Site was created using the downloads provided Regards Herb

offsite link The Saker blog is now frozen Tue Feb 28, 2023 23:55 | The Saker
Dear friends As I have previously announced, we are now “freezing” the blog.  We are also making archives of the blog available for free download in various formats (see below). 

offsite link What do you make of the Russia and China Partnership? Tue Feb 28, 2023 16:26 | The Saker
by Mr. Allen for the Saker blog Over the last few years, we hear leaders from both Russia and China pronouncing that they have formed a relationship where there are

offsite link Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/27 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 27, 2023 19:00 | cafe-uploader
2023/02/27 19:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of

offsite link The stage is set for Hybrid World War III Mon Feb 27, 2023 15:50 | The Saker
Pepe Escobar for the Saker blog A powerful feeling rhythms your skin and drums up your soul as you?re immersed in a long walk under persistent snow flurries, pinpointed by

The Saker >>

Public Inquiry
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005

offsite link RTEs Sarah McInerney ? Fianna Fail supporter? Anthony

offsite link Joe Duffy is dishonest and untrustworthy Anthony

offsite link Robert Watt complaint: Time for decision by SIPO Anthony

offsite link RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony

offsite link Waiting for SIPO Anthony

Public Inquiry >>

Human Rights in Ireland
Indymedia Ireland is a volunteer-run non-commercial open publishing website for local and international news, opinion & analysis, press releases and events. Its main objective is to enable the public to participate in reporting and analysis of the news and other important events and aspects of our daily lives and thereby give a voice to people.

offsite link Julian Assange is finally free ! Tue Jun 25, 2024 21:11 | indy

offsite link Stand With Palestine: Workplace Day of Action on Naksa Day Thu May 30, 2024 21:55 | indy

offsite link It is Chemtrails Month and Time to Visit this Topic Thu May 30, 2024 00:01 | indy

offsite link Hamburg 14.05. "Rote" Flora Reoccupied By Internationalists Wed May 15, 2024 15:49 | Internationalist left

offsite link Eddie Hobbs Breaks the Silence Exposing the Hidden Agenda Behind the WHO Treaty Sat May 11, 2024 22:41 | indy

Human Rights in Ireland >>

Outcry Over Proposed Ban on Watersports on Galway Beaches. This Must be Stopped Before Other Countries Do It

category national | public consultation / irish social forum | news report author Monday November 07, 2022 22:43author by 1 of Indy Report this post to the editors

You have a chance to submit your feedback to the Council before this Fri Nov 11th to stop this madness

Galway County Council have proposed by laws that are truly Orwellian and all about control. One has to ask if this is a trial balloon for this were to succeed other councils were surely try it and before we know it hiking would be banned as well and basically all access to the outdoors. Remember that this was effectively done during Covid lockdowns so government know they can do it

This story has got fairly wide traction and rightly so. Here is a report from AFLOAT magazine


West coast windsurfers, sailors and other water users have expressed alarm over a proposal to ban all leisure activities other than swimming on Galway county beaches.

Under the draft legislation, sailing, kayaking, windsurfing, stand-up paddling and horse-riding would be banned at 24 beaches extending from the Aran islands to Connemara to Portumna with a risk of fines of up to €1900.

muiazwbgcawawte-800x450-nopad.jpg

The by-laws propose that “no person shall wind surf on sail boards or kite-surf on kite boards or surf on a surf board or use a canoe, kayak, dinghy, stand-up paddle board or water bike in close proximity to bathers”.

The draft bye-laws also propose banning dog walking between 11 am and 7 pm and ensuring dogs are on a leash outside these hours during summer months.

Bans on the use of inflatable water devices on open water, and personal watercraft, power craft and fast power craft within 300m of the low water mark at the time of use, “except for the purpose of rescue”, are also proposed.

Community pharmacist Dr Barra Nevin, a windsurfer and sailor, said the proposed bye-laws include a provision to allow zoning for other activities, but at a later stage, “which doesn’t make sense”.

He has questioned why there was no dialogue or advanced consultation with water users.

“This has national implications, as if these bye-laws are passed here it will be copied by other local authorities, which will effectively close access to the sea for many people ,”he said.

“As a community pharmacist in Roscam, Galway and former chairperson of the Irish Pharmacy Union Western Region, this proposal is contrary to HSE policy on outdoor pursuits and exercise,”Dr Nevin says in his submission to Galway County Council.

“To criminalise water sports enthusiasts is madness, considering the benefits of same on one's physical and mental health,” Dr Nevin says.

Dr Nevin, who stood on a community platform in the 2009 local elections, is windsurfing representative on the Renville Water Users group, which includes four county councillors.

He is an active member of Galway Bay Sailing Club and pointed out that water users work together in Renville.

“What is going to happen politically when local people who have no idea of these proposed bye-laws turn up to their beach with their kayak on the roof of their cars and first hear and see signage representative of these bye-laws?” he asks in his submission.

Galway swimmer Brian Coll said the draft bye-laws put swimmers in conflict with other water sports users.

“ A preferred approach is to implement beach management plans and zoning that enable as many people as possible to access the beach for their activities,” he said.

Coll notes that Galway is the only county on the Wild Atlantic Way which does not zone beaches to accommodate swimmers and other water-based activities, and he warned that the bye-laws could result in loss of Blue Flag status.

“By not having designated swim and water sports zones in place, this new law effectively results in a 'NOT WELCOME' sign to all visitors who wish to engage in watersports on County Galway beaches,” he says.

Galway sailor and yacht chandler Pierce Purcell said that lack of access was the single biggest obstacle to the development of water sport.

“The west coast is recognised as an incredible blue water cruising ground, and is so far behind in marina facilities apart from the very welcome addition of the growing facilities at Ros-a-Mhíl, Inis Mór and Inishbofin,” he says.

Given the tourism benefits and health and safety considerations, Galway County Council “should be putting their efforts into applying for funds to develop these incredible natural amenities,” Purcell says.

Galway County Council did not respond to a request for comment.


The closing date for submissions on the draft bye-laws is Friday November 11th.

Link to Draft Beach Bye Laws: https://www.galway.ie/en/media/Draft%20Beach%20Bye%20Laws%202022%20Eng.pdf

Link to Draft Beach Bye Law Maps: https://www.galway.ie/en/media/Draft%20Beach%20Bye%20Laws%20Maps%202022.pdf


UPDATE:

A petition under the heading Watersports Ban Galway- Galway Draft Bye Laws 2022 has been launched at https://www.change.org/p/watersports-ban-galway-draft-bye-laws-2022

Please visit the page as it has useful commentary on the issue and information





Related Link: https://afloat.ie/port-news/galway-harbour/item/56813-outcry-over-proposed-ban-on-watersports-on-galway-beaches
© 2001-2024 Independent Media Centre Ireland. Unless otherwise stated by the author, all content is free for non-commercial reuse, reprint, and rebroadcast, on the net and elsewhere. Opinions are those of the contributors and are not necessarily endorsed by Independent Media Centre Ireland. Disclaimer | Privacy