Galway County and City Water Safety Shared Service

Water Safety and Lifeguard Services in Galway

County Galway has an impressive coastline with many EU Blue Flag Standard lakeshore and coastal swimming areas.

Galway County Council promotes water safety through its participation in the County Committee for Water Safety and the provision of Lifeguards to several beaches and outdoor swimming areas during the June to September season.

Galway County Council administers Lifeguard Services on behalf of both Galway County and City Councils. The service is funded by both Councils. Each year, a panel of highly qualified Lifeguards is put in place.

A minimum of two Lifeguards provides services at Designated Bathing Areas (DBAs) in accordance with standards set out by the International Life Saving Federation of Europe (ILSE).

In Galway City and County, there are fourteen beaches and two lakes where Lifeguards are employed during the summer season. All Blue Flag beaches are assigned Lifeguards.

Flag Standards

• Blue Flags are awarded to bathing areas that meet excellent water quality standards and provide various amenities, including lifeguards and toilet facilities.

• Green Coast Flags are awarded to rural bathing areas that meet excellent water quality standards and are managed by the local authority in partnership with local Clean Coasts groups.

  Further information on Blue Flag Beaches and Green Coast Awards and bathing water quality in County Galway is available at http://www.bathingwater.ie

Beach Warning flags

Beach Warning Flags are flown at guarded beaches while the Lifeguards are on duty.

Warning Flags include:

• Red Flag: Dangerous for bathing.
• Red/Yellow Flag: Lifeguards on duty.
• No Flag: No Lifeguards on duty.

Rip Currents

Rips are strong currents running out to sea, which can quickly drag people and debris away from the shallows of the shoreline and out to deeper water.

How to Identify Rip Currents

Look for any of these clues:

• A channel of churning, choppy water.
• An area having a notable difference in water colour.
• A line of foam, seaweed, or debris moving steadily seaward.
• A break in the incoming wave pattern.
  None, one, or more of the above clues may indicate the presence of rip currents. Rip currents are often not readily or easily identifiable to the average beachgoer. For your safety, be aware of this major surf zone hazard. Polarised sunglasses make it easier to see the rip current clues provided above.

Further information on Rip Currents available at the following link: https://watersafety.ie/rip-currents/ 

Emergency Numbers

If you see someone in difficulty:

• Always tell an on-duty Lifeguard.
• Or if you can't see a Lifeguard CALL 999 / 112 and ask for the Coastguard.

Out of Season Bathing – Know the Risks

Open water swimming, at sea or in lakes and rivers, has both physical and mental health benefits for us all. During the colder seasons, there are increased risks of water-borne illness, due to less favourable water quality resulting from increased rainfall and lower UV light outside of summer.

Further information can be found by clicking on the below PDF or visiting this link: https://www.beaches.ie/out-of-season-bathing-know-the-risks-infographic/

Tips for Safe Swimming

The following tips are recommended to practice safe swimming in Galway County and City Beaches:

• Always try and swim on beaches or at locations where lifeguards are on duty. Swim with others, never alone.
• Don’t swim just after eating.
• Never swim in the dark or when you are hot or tired.
• Avoid swimming in strange places.
• Never swim out after drifting objects.
• Don’t stay in the water too long.
• Don’t swim out to sea.
• Swim parallel and close to the shore.
• Obey lifeguards and swim between lifeguard flags.
• Never use inflatable toys.
• Pay attention to signs on the beach.
• Never bully others or make them take risks.
• Learn to use equipment before trying it out.
• Learn basic life support.
• Those going sailing or using other watercraft must always wear a lifejacket or buoyancy aid.

You can find more information through a Powerpoint presentation created by our Water Safety and Development Officer at the following link: 

The County Committee of Irish Water Safety holds water safety weeks at up to eleven locations in the summer including, Inis Mór, Inis Oírr and Inis Méan and at Oughterard, Cor na Mona, An Cheathrú Rua, Portumna, Loughrea and Salthill beaches.

Courses are held at Leisureland, Galway on Sunday mornings from October to June. For further information on water safety visit Irish Water Safety http://www.iws.ie/.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish can pose a danger at bathing locations. Always listen to the advice of the lifeguards on the beach regarding jellyfish.

For further information visit Irish Water Safety's Advice and Precautions page at https://watersafety.ie/recreation or click here. 

Some commonly found Jellyfish in Irish Waters:

Ringbuoys

Galway County Council provides Ringbuoys throughout the County of Galway and County Council owned Ringbuoys are regularly inspected and monitored by Council staff in all Municipal Districts. 

The extreme weather conditions along the Atlantic coast occasionally results in coastal erosion and creates the necessity to replace ringbuoys and safety information signage when necessary at certain locations.  

If there are any reports of missing or damaged ringbuoys, rope, attachments etc, please log this on www.watersafety.ie/ringbuoys

Beaches with Beach Wheelchairs

Beach wheelchairs are available for use by the public with consent of lifeguard on duty at the following beaches:

Beach Lifeguard Service Locations - Galway County & City Council Areas 

Locations – Subject to annual agreement	Lifeguard Operating Hours – 11am-7pm Subject to agreement on Water Safety Programme and available resources	Number of Lifeguards
Galway City
1. Blackrock Salthill	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	3 Lifeguards
2. Ladies Beach Salthill	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
3. Silverstrand (Bearna)	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
4. Palmers Salthill	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
5. Grattan Salthill	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
6. Ballyloughane  Renmore	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards

Locations – Subject to annual agreement	Lifeguard Operating Hours – 11am-7pm on the mainland Island Hours 12-4pm Subject to agreement on Water Safety Programme and available resources	Number of Lifeguards
Galway County
7. Loughrea Lake	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
8. An Trá Mhór,  An Cnoc, Indreabhán	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
9. Trá an Dóilín, An Cheathrú Rua	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
10. Inis Oírr	12.00pm – 4.00pm Weekends in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
11. Cill Mhuirbhigh,  Inis Mór	12.00pm – 4.00pm Weekends in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
12. Portumna	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
13.Tracht, Cinn Mhara	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
14. Cloch na Rón	Weekends only in July and August	2 Lifeguards
15. Céibh an Spidéil,  An Spidéal	Open 11.00am – 7.00pm Weekends only in June 7 days a week in July & August Weekends in Sept, until the second weekend in September	2 Lifeguards
16. Bóthar an Spidéil  An Spidéal	Weekends only in July and August	2 Lifeguards

Contact Information

Recreation and Amenity (Lifeguard Services)
Corporate Services,
Galway County Council,
Áras an Chontae, Prospect Hill, Galway, H91 H6KX

Phone: (091) 509225
Email: lifeguards@galwaycoco.ie