This August week-end two young swimmers were pulled out of the water at Edmond Point. With high seas running they found it difficult to get out of the water. Fortunately there were quite a few people on the rocks nearby so the two swimmers were pulled to safety. In rough weather this is a dangerous spot. One of the causes of this problem is the absence of diving boards at Newfoundout. This is a favourite diving spot and has been for many generations. A few years ago Clare Co Council decided to remove the boards on health and safety!! grounds. There was such an uproar that Clare Co Council asked  Irish Water Safety to carry out a safety audit. Much to the embarrassment of Clare Co Council IWS passed the site and boards as safe. They were then re-instated.

Fast forward to August 2015 and modern new diving boards were purchased by Kilkee Chamber of Commerce because the previous ones were vandalised. Problem: Clare Co Council won’t erect them until they get a guarantee that they are fit for purpose. Fair enough you say but the previous ones with exactly the same spec were there for years. No manufacturer is going to stand over diving boards because of the accidents that can happen. Now, however, we have a bigger problem. Young people are now jumping off the rocks at Newfoundout. This can be very dangerous. The old diving boards took the diver out over six feet from the rock face and so they were very safe. Somebody is going to get hurt. The incident this week-end at Edmund Point is an example of this. Where Kilkee is concerned Clare Co Council has a history of shooting themselves in the foot.