Water Safety Information
Water Safety Ireland, the Coast Guard and RNLI have all appealed to anyone participating in any activities on or near water to ensure that they are following all of the available safety guidance to ensure the wellbeing of themselves, their friends and families.
Further information can be found at watersafety.ie or gov.ie/summerready
County Sligo is home to some of the finest beaches in the country, has a number of beautiful lakes and several well used waterways. Sligo County Council would like to remind everyone to take care when they are enjoying themselves on or close to any of our beaches, lakes and waterways.
Click on the links below for further information:
- Mind the kids! (MP3) - 790 kbs
- General Water Safety (MP3) - 855 kbs
- Safetyzone (MP3) - 860 kbs
For further information on water safety in County Sligo, please contact the Water Safety Development Officer on 071 9111254 or go to the Irish Water Safety (www.IWS.ie) or Sligo Water Safety Websites (www.sligowatersafety.com) for further information on water safety courses.
Irish Water Summer Safety Tips (PDF) - 1,618 kbs
Safety on the beach is the responsibility of all beach users. During the bathing season (June-September), safety is boosted by the presence of Beach Lifeguards on Enniscrone, Streedagh, Dunmoran and Rosses Point beaches. Due to the ongoing Health and Safety issues, Mullaghmore beach is not be covered by a Beachguard service. All Beachguards are fully qualified, holding the Beach Life Guard Award. Beachguards will be dressed uniformly for easy identification on the beach and they will be stationed at the Beachguard hut.
Beachguards
Beachguards are primarily responsible for the following:
- All aspects of water safety on the beach
- The enforcement of the Beach Bye-Laws 2007
The Beach Lifeguards role on each beach is to advise and provide safety information and to administer first aid treatment in the event of an emergency. Beach staff are also authorised under the Litter Pollution Act 1997 as amended, this means they can issue on-the-spot fines to inpiduals that throw litter, leave waste after them or allow their dogs to foul in public places but do not clean up after them.
Sligo County Council urges all beach users to be vigilant by:
- Noting the flag status on the beach.
Red flag ~ danger
Red-yellow flag ~ beach guard on duty
No flag ~ no beach guard on duty - Reading the safety information on the blue flag beach notice boards.
- Not swimming within 1 hour of consuming food.
- Not using inflatable/ floatation devices when off shore winds are blowing.
Beach Lifeguard cover for the Bathing Season
The following beaches have Beach Lifeguard cover weekends only during June, five weekend days in September, and every day during July and August:
Rosses Point and Enniscrone.
Times: 11.30 – 19.00
At Enniscrone while the Beach Lifeguards are on duty for the Bathing Season, the entrance barrier to the beach shall only be opened when all available parking space has been used. If the barrier is opened to accommodate the parking of additional vehicles, all vehicles must be off the beach by 6:30 pm and the barrier will be closed by the Beach Lifeguards when they finish at 7pm.
The following beaches have Beach Lifeguard cover weekends only during July and August:
Streedagh and Dunmoran
Times: 12.30 – 18.30
Beachwarden cover for the Bathing Season
There is no Beach Warden on duty for bathing season 2024 due to circumstances outside our control. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
Sligo County Council urges all beach users to consider others by:
- Keeping your dog under effective control at all times - i.e. on a leash.
- Clearing up after your pet should it foul on the beach or in a public place.
For your information, you can download a copy of the Beach Bye-laws here:
Bye-Laws Governing the Beach at Strandhill, Co. Sligo (PDF) - 48 kbs
Report a Missing or Found Lifebuoy
- Observe missing lifebuoy
- Note the location
- Report on www.ringbuoys.ie
OR
Report to Sligo County Council mhealy@sligococo.ie