Salthill raft left high and dry by safety concerns
The popular raft used by swimmers off Blackrock in Salthill that was decommissioned this summer has sailed its final journey and is not coming back again – ever.
Health and safety concerns were cited last night by Galway City Council as the reason why the raft would not be returning again.
The raft, which is much loved particularly by swimmers off Blackrock and the Prom, makes an appearance every year.
It did not appear this year, much to the dismay of local swimmers, and at a Council meeting last night it was confirmed that it would not be returning.
Stephen Walsh, senior executive parks superintendent at the Council, confirmed it was decommissioned due to health and safety concerns.
He explained that the City Council, in conjunction with the County Council, operates a lifeguard service at Blackrock every year.
The County Council has employed a water safety officer who has recommended that the raft be permanently removed from the water, he said.
Mr Walsh said the City Council was complying with the wishes of the water safety officer.
Mr Walsh said there had been “a number of incidents” relating to the raft.
He said there were some people who “nearly drowned” as a result of the raft and there were instances of “hypothermia”.
Fine Gael City Councillor, Pearce Flannery, who elicited the information from Mr Walsh that the raft would be out of action forever, demanded to see the health and safety report or audit that was carried out to reach this decision.
He said the raft was there for over 50 years and children in particular, and by extension their parents, were very unhappy that it was not at Blackrock this Summer.
Mr Walsh said there was no health and safety report as such but there were lifeguards’ reports and logs of incidents involving the raft, including near drownings and hypothermia.
For more, read this week's Connacht Sentinel.