Cork County Council Beach Lifeguard Team Return for 2024 Bathing Season

A Cork County Council beach lifeguard holding a surf rescue board looking out towards the sea.

Cork County Council’s Beach Lifeguard Team is preparing to resume duty around the county’s coast this June bank holiday weekend. 

Starting this Saturday the 1st of June, the Beach Lifeguards will raise their red and yellow flags to indicate when they are on duty between 10.30am and 7.00pm.  The service will be on duty weekends in June, full-time during the months of July and August and the first two weekends of September, finishing on the 8th of September 2024.

While overseeing the safety of the public in the water, Beach Lifeguards are reminding parents and guardians that ‘Holding Hands Saves Lives’. Last summer the county’s lifeguards reunited five children with their parents. Parental supervision and vigilance are key in keeping children safe on a day out in any water environment.  

The Beach Lifeguards are also asking people to always swim at a lifeguarded waterway and not to bring inflatable toys to the beach where it is unsafe to use them. Inflatable boats, beds and toys are unsafe to use on open water due to our temperate climate together with strong and changeable winds throughout most of the summer. 

Mayor of the County of Cork, Cllr. Frank O’Flynn said, 

We are very fortunate to have a full-time seasonal team of 40 lifeguards in the county, but we can each play our part in staying safe while spending time at our beautiful coast. I urge parents and guardians to make water safety a priority and encourage everyone to learn the Flag System so that we can make our beaches an even safer place to enjoy this year.

The Water Safety Flag system advises;

  • A red over yellow flag means the lifeguards are on duty. 
  •  Swim between the red and yellow flags close and parallel to the shore as this is the area that the lifeguards are patrolling.
  • A red flag indicates that swimming is not advised.
  • Black and white chequered flags mark the area for surfing only.  

Chief Executive of Cork County Council, Valerie O’Sullivan added, 

Our Beach Lifeguards provide a wonderful service.  Last year they prevented thousands of accidents, gave out valuable water safety advice each day, provided first aid assistance 296 times and rescued seven individuals who had gotten into difficulty in the water. We are again reminding the public to swim at a lifeguarded beach this summer and always think safety around any aquatic environment.

Cork County Council’s Beach Lifeguard’s will be on duty at Front Strand, Claycastle and Redbarn in Youghal, Garryvoe, Fountainstown, Inchydoney, Owenahincha, The Warren, Garrylucas, Garretstown, Tragumna and Barleycove beaches.

For further water safety information, daily updates on conditions and flags flying at each beach visit ‘Cork Co Co Beachguards’ on Facebook.