Beach ranger is 'making a difference' at popular Mayo resort

The appointment of a beach ranger at picturesque Keem Bay on Achill Island has proved hugely effective in promoting good visitor behaviour, Mayo County Council's Tourism Development Officer has said.

Anna Connor told last week's meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District that the beach ranger is "working effectively". The beach has regularly been voted amongst the top in the world and attracts huge numbers of visitors. 

“With a warden in place, the wild camping and fires are now at a minimum, which is great, because it is an area of conservation," she said.

Achill-based Cllr Paul McNamara said he had visited the popular visitor attraction on several occasions recently and the beach ranger has "made an awful lot of difference". He was also pleased with the new line-marking in the car park.

“The car-parking alignment has meant that cars and camper vans are all parking properly in both car parks now and the fact there is a presence on the ground is just great and that there is somebody there to coordinate and deal with it.” 

He welcomed the fact that tender documents for planned upgrades to the public toilets at Keel Beach on Achill and Carrowmore Beach in Louisburgh were due to be issued in the next week. He also queried when similar works at Keem, which had been allocated funding of €150,000, would take place, adding that he hoped all would be up and running for the 2025 tourist season.

Ms Connor said that the tender deadline for Keel and Carrowmore was the first week in August and it was hoped that construction would commence in September. The council would look at the situation regarding funding for the toilets at Keem after the busy tourism season ends. 

Cllr Peter Flynn welcomed the works at Keel and Carrowmore, noting there was a significant investment of €2.4 million between the two projects. He also expressed the hope that similar facilities would be developed at other beaches in Mayo.