The following is the complete version of the abridged article that appeared in The North County Leader: ’Recognition Sought For Malahide Swimming Area’ by Jennifer Ryan, originally published in The North County Leader, 2nd August 2011, Volume 18, Issue 21
Low Rock on the Malahide coast is a very popular swimming spot for locals and those from further afield. On an average day as many as forty to fifty people visit Low Rock to swim, some training for the famous ‘English Channel’ and ‘Escape to Alcatraz’ long distance swims. Despite the popularity and fame of the swimming point, Low Rock is still not recognised as a official swimming beach. This means it receives no funding from Fingal County Council and has no official lifeguards or water safety flags. Fed up of Low Rock being ignored, a group of locals took up the cause five years ago and formed the Low Rock Beach Committee, a committee dedicated to the running and upkeep of Low Rock and to working towards getting Low Rock recognised as an official swimming beach. The committee obtained funding for the beach in the form of two grants from An Taisce and further funding from the Lions Club and Malahide Forum. An Tasice introduced the group to the Adopt-a-Beach scheme and also provided the group with pickers, bags and gloves to help keep the beach clean.
There are two Low Rock Swimmers shelters which are small stone buildings on the beach that were built over 100 years ago but never maintained by the local council. When the committee was set up, the volunteers took it upon themselves to refurbish the former derelict shelters. The committee maintains these buildings itself, which offers responsible and regular swimmers their own key to the building, a space for men and women to change and leave their belongings, tea and coffee facilities, first aid and most important of all, a headquarters for beach safety. The committee members keep track of the tides and temperature of the sea and there are whistles and a life ring at the shelter. The members of the committee act as unofficial lifeguards for the swimmers using the beach. Secretary of the Beach Committee Philip Lynch said “In true community spirit we all keep an eye on each other.” Philip told of the current status of the appeal. “We have a meeting imminent with the Fingal County Council and a representative from Irish Water Safety Association.”
The beach is extremely popular; over 300 keys have been given to responsible swimmers who frequent the beach often. Hundreds of people visit the two annual Dublin outdoor swimming league events which take place at Low Rock every year; The Eastern Bay annual open sea swim and The Guinness Swimming Club Open Sea Section. The Portmarnock Life Saving Club’s ‘Open Sea Life Saving’ training course also takes place at Low Rock, and all the while the beach is still not a officially recognised swimming beach.
The committee is made up of hundreds of swimmers, but the active members are Chairperson Brendan Ford, Treasurer Jacinta Cuminskey, Secretary Philip Lynch and members Jim Rotchford, Maureen Ford and Doherty Rotchford. There are many improvements that could be made to Low Rock. At the moment, the members bring portable gas heaters and water in containers so they can make tea and coffee. If they were to receive funding, more refugee bins could be added, permanent seating on the beach such as benches, and running water to install showers. They would also like to extend the concrete areas and make the concrete steps wider down do the shoreline with a handrail so swimmers could access the water easier. There are public toilets across the road that were built by the Fingal County Council but were never opened.
Philip explained how Malahide would benefit greatly if Low Rock was to become recognised. The main beach, which receives the most beach funding in Malahide, is at Malahide Estuary. This beach has a very dangerous current and there are signs warning people not to swim there. The water quality at Low Rock is excellent and if it were to become an official swimming beach it may help Malahide gain a blue flag. There is also great tourist potential, with the heritage of the former volcanic Lambay island across from Low Rock, fossilised fish along the coast and the wooden remains of the jetty from the former castle. “We have also started a flower garden to help introduce more fauna and flora to Low Rock, where wild orchids grow. There are however, no signs to explain all of this history to the public. If there were, it may even be possible to include Low Rock on the Dublin whistle stop tour, increasing tourist traffic to Malahide and benefiting Malahide Commerce. The potential of Low Rock is endless, all we need is for it to be recognised.”
