A popular beach in one of Cork's most-loved holiday spots has effectively been 'closed' for the summer to swimmers - with Cork County Council taking the rare step of issuing a full 'unsafe for swimming' warning.
This comes after a number of scary incidents at Coolmaine beach near Courtmacsherry, after several swimmers had to be rescued from very dangerous riptides and currents. And it comes two days after the Irish Coastguard issued a similar warning for the same stretch of deceptively peaceful strand.
This morning, after reviewing the issue, Cork County Council issued the stark warning for locals and visitors alike - Do Not Swim at Coolmaine Beach.
The council said: "Coolmaine beach is considered unsafe for swimming and bathing due to the presence of estuarine channels and hazardous conditions, including currents, sudden changes in depth and deep water near the shore."
The Council said the decision is to effectively close the beach, there are no issues with water quality there, but; "No bathing water sampling will be conducted by Cork County Council, Environment Directorate for the 2025 season due to health and safety concerns.
The situation will be assessed over the 2025 bathing season."
Signs will be erected to warn the public of the risks at the beach - and the Council is hoping that a fully informed public will not risk taking to the waters there.
Just 48 hours ago, CorkBeo reported on how the Irish Coastguard had issued an urgent warning about the beach at Coolmaine near Courtmac.
The crew at the Seven Heads Coast Guard warned of difficult swimming conditions saying the terrain at the beach is "ever-shifting," meaning there are sharp drops in sand levels which can be hidden below the water.
This is especially dangerous for children and weaker swimmers, who might be walking into the ocean and suddenly find they have no space to stand. The uneven ground, coupled with the strong currents when the tide is going out, can make this a potentially lethal spot for anyone caught off guard.
The Seven Heads Coast Guard team has responded to a number of callouts regarding swimmers in difficulty at Coolmain beach in recent weeks. In a new social media post, their crew is urging the public to take care when swimming in the area. If you ever see anyone in difficulty in the water, you should contact the emergency services immediately on 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard.
During the recent warmer weather, Cork's RNLI teams have been raising awareness of how boat users can keep themselves safe while out on the water. You can check out a handy graphic with safety advice below.
Earlier this month, the team at Courtmacsherry RNLI had to postpone plans to lay a wreath on the historic wreck of the Lusitania liner when they were called to go to the aid of an 18ft Fishing boat that was drifting. The experienced lifeboat crew rushed to the vessel and were able to repair its engine so the sailor in difficulty could travel to a safe harbour.
And back in March, Kinsale RNLI were also tasked to rescue a member of the public who had been stranded by the high tide at Dock Beach.
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