Local people who visit Strandhill in County Sligo are aware swimming is not allowed in the sea there because of dangerous rip tides and shifting sands. But what happens when someone arrives from outside the area and who is not familiar with the dangers of the sea there?
Val McCaul from County Cavan recently visited Strandhill and was taken aback when told by a beach warden to get out of the water.
Val says he fully appreciates what the warden was doing — and indeed thanks him for his advice — but he feels there is a need for better, bigger signage at the beach front warning people of the dangers of swimming there. New signs have recently been erected but many people, Val included, says the Covid-19 signs are more obvious than the No Swimming signs.
Val has been telling the North West Today about his experience of visiting Strandhill during a four-day trip to Sligo. It was a visit, he says, he thoroughly enjoyed– ten out of ten — despite no swimming in the sea.
