Buncrana faces another summer without a lifeguard

Fears that Buncrana’s five beaches will once again be left without a lifeguard this summer have been expressed by an Inishowen Councillor, who is concerned that “we are lagging behind from the safety aspect of having no lifeguard at the beaches.”

Concern was raised by South Inishowen Councillor Fionán Bradley at the April sitting of the Inishowen Municipal District meeting, where he asked about a lifeguard being placed on patrol at one of Buncrana’s beaches for the summer season. 

The Buncrana Councillor had given the example of Lisfannon beach, which lost its Blue Flag in 2017. Local authorities are required to provide a beach lifeguard service at Blue Flag beaches for weekends in June and daily during July and August. Despite losing its excellent status, the beach was still supplied with a lifeguard until the pandemic – but for the last five years there has been no lifeguard patrolling Lisfannon.  

A response is expected to be given to Councillor Bradley at the latest Inishowen Municipal District meeting today following his request but Mr Bradley isn't “expecting there to be a lifeguard stationed anywhere in Buncrana over the summer period.”

“I expect they will tell me that Lisfannon's Blue Flag has left and as for Lady's  Bay, there is no bathing but I fully expect that to be lifted next year. I am not that hopeful, but I hope I am wrong regarding the lifeguard situation this year."

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The imminent news regarding a decision over the lifeguard comes following the double drowning tragedy of teenagers Matt Sibanda and Emmanuel Familola in Buncrana. 

Councillor Bradley admits that a lifeguard at Lisfannon or the Shorefront probably wouldn't have made a difference to Matt or Emmanuel, who drowned off Ned’s Point, but the tragedy has made him even more determined to secure the services of a lifesaver going forward. 

“If we had a lifeguard at a beach in Buncrana then if you're not local or confident at swimming we would then advise you to go to that beach because at least there is a lifeguard stationed there. Should it be the Shorefront then we can make it well known that the Shorefront in Buncrana has a lifeguard available. People do drown on beaches where there are lifeguards, unfortunately. It doesn't always prevent drownings, but it certainly does help.”