Lifeguards will be on duty on some of Kerry’s Blue Flag beaches from this weekend.
This is the first weekend that lifeguards will be working across the county, as the official bathing season gets underway.
However, lifeguards won’t be on Maherabeg beach this weekend.
43 lifeguards, who are all fully trained and Garda vetted, will be on duty on 13 beaches across Kerry from this weekend for the summer season.
The bathing season runs from the start of June until the middle of September.
During that time, lifeguard cover will be on Rossbeigh, Ballybunion South, Ballybunion North, Ballyheigue, Fenit, Maherbeg, Kells, Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane), White Strand (Cahersiveen), Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs), Banna, Fionntrá (Ventry), and Inch.
However, Kerry County Council, which oversees lifeguards, says Maherabeg won’t have lifeguards on duty until later in June when personnel are available and a complete roster of lifeguards is put in place.
During June, the lifeguards, will provide weekend coverage and that will extend to seven days a week during both July and August.
They’ll work from 12pm to 7pm on weekdays and from 11am to 7pm on weekends and public holidays.
Over the summer months, Kerry County Council is asking beachgoers to prioritise safety in the water and to swim only in the areas where lifeguards are on duty, which are identified by the lifeguard flags which are red and yellow.
The council is also warning that lifeguards are only on duty during specific times and that they cover only designated patrolled areas which are indicated by the presence of lifeguard flags.
