Water quality for sailors, swimmers, surfers and anglers off the south Connemara harbour of An Spidéal is expected to improve due to the commissioning of its first waste water treatment plant.

Uisce Éireann was joined by local representatives who saw first-hand the state-of-the-art treatment being provided for wastewater in the picturesque village, and they discussed the significant benefits in terms of protecting the environment and improving water quality in the bay for swimming, surfing, fishing and boating.

“Not only has the new treatment plant eliminated the discharge of raw sewage, but it is an enabler for housing and will support economic growth and development in the area,” Uisce Eireann, which built the plant, has said.

An Spidéal wastewater treatment plant

Uisce Éireann’s Paul Fallon has paid tribute to the team involved and said it was fitting to be able to mark the end of the year with a “celebration” in An Spidéal.

“Eliminating the discharge of raw sewage into Galway Bay has always been a priority for Uisce Éireann, and we are proud to be ending this practice, safeguarding the local environment and enhancing tourism opportunities for this beautiful part of the country,” Fallon said.

“We say a big thank you to the local community, including Udarás na Gaeltachta, Spiddal Craft and Design Studios, Danú Media, Stiúideo Cuan Teo as well as Scoil Éinne for their ongoing support and patience throughout the delivery of this vital project,” he said.

Galway County Council Cathaoirleach Cllr Liam Carroll spoke of his pride at seeing the plant up and running.

He commended the team at Uisce Éireann and Galway County Council and described it as “ a vital piece of infrastructure for the locality”.

The €4m project includes the new wastewater treatment plant for a population equivalent of up to 1,000, a below-ground pump station, new sewer pipelines to divert untreated wastewater to the new pumping station and onto the new wastewater treatment plant, and the reuse of the existing outfall pipe to safely discharge treated wastewater to Galway Bay in compliance with regulatory standards.

Mott MacDonald and Coffey Water Limited completed the work for Uisce Éireann.

The State agency said that it marked another major milestone in its work to “end the unacceptable practice of discharging untreated sewage into our waterways and seas”.

It said An Spidéal is “among 28 towns and villages around the country benefiting today from cleaner waters and enhanced amenities due to the construction of new treatment plants where none existed previously”.

There are currently 11 more locations under construction including Ahascragh in Co Galway, it said.

“This means that over 70% of all raw sewage discharges nationwide have now been eliminated, with the majority of the remainder set to end by 2025,” it said.

Oppie sailors took to Galway Bay at the weekend for the resumed Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS) annual regatta.

Challenging conditions off An Spidéal the previous weekend had restricted racing to the mixed fleet of 420, Laser, Pico and Topaz dinghies, and freshening winds forced an early finish on safety grounds.

Lighter winds on Sunday (October 23) and a rare absence of rain after a week of broken weather and heavy showers allowed the club’s Oppie fleet to launch for a series of three races set by officer of the day Stephen O’Gorman and commodore Eoin Ó Conghaíle.

The winner in the Oppie fleet was Liam Riggott, and Padraic Halliday, also of CSS, took second place.

Seán Ó Conghaíle took third, and Sarah MacAodha finished in fourth place.

Participation by Picos has also been cancelled on safety grounds the previous week. CSS sailing duo Sarah Donald and Rory McHale were presented with the overall Pico trophy for their participation.

CSS regatta 2022 Oppie fleet winner Liam Riggot with commodore Eoin Ó Conghaíle Photo: Jamie Donald

CSS regatta 2022- Padraic Halliday took second place in Oppies with commodore Eoin Ó Conghaíle Photo: Jamie Donald

CSS regatta 2022 third place winner Seán Ó Conghaíle with commodore Eoin Ó Conghaíle Photo: Jamie Donald

CSS regatta 2022 - Oppie sailor Sarah MacAodha who took fourth place with commodore Eoin Ó Conghaíle Photo: Jamie Donald

The “do not consume” notice on public water affecting over 5,000 households in south Connemara has been lifted with immediate effect by Irish Water.

The agency says water is safe to drink for the “majority” living in An Spidéal and Na Forbacha, but those living in the network served by the Ros-a-Mhíl reservoir have been issued with a “boil water” notice.

This is to protect public health until additional remedial works are complete, Irish Water says.

The “do not consume” notice in place since September was issued due to reported high levels of manganese in the public water supply, which involved extensive flushing of the system to remove.

Businesses and some residents have been critical of the lack of communication over the issue by Irish Water. Tankered water, which then had to be boiled, was made available at a number of collection points.

Irish Water’s drinking water compliance specialist Dr Pat O’Sullivan acknowledged the impact the “do not consume” notice had on the 5,675 customers supplied by An Spidéal’s public water supply and thanked them for their patience while Irish Water and Galway County Council worked to have it lifted.

“ We would like to thank all the residents and businesses who were affected by this notice for their patience and cooperation while it was in place to protect public health,”Dr O’Sullivan said.

“We would also like to acknowledge and thank our colleagues in Galway County Council who worked tirelessly to address what was a challenging and complex issue. This notice has now been lifted, in consultation with the Health Service Executive and Environmental Protection Agency, following an extensive sampling and testing process to ensure that the water is safe to drink,” Dr O’Sullivan added.

He explained that the Boil Water Notice for those served by the Ros-a-Mhíl reservoir has been put in place due to the low levels of chlorine and detections of coliform bacteria in this part of the supply network. Works are ongoing to address this issue, he said.

The area affected includes approximately 250 customers in Ros-a-Mhíl.

A map of the area is available to view on the supply and service section of water.ie. A “boil water” notice will also be hand-delivered to the properties affected, Irish Water said.

It said experts from Irish Water and Galway County Council are assessing the situation with a view to having the notice lifted as quickly as possible.

Vulnerable customers who have registered with Irish Water will be contacted directly about this notice, it says.

Water must be boiled for:

• Drinking
• Drinks made with water
• Preparation of salads and similar foods, which are not cooked prior to eating
• Brushing of teeth
• Making of ice - discard ice cubes in fridges and freezers and filtered water in fridges. Make ice from cooled boiled water

Irish Water says that anyone who has concerns can contact our customer care team on 1800 278 278 or log onto the water supply and service section of water.ie for information.

A property’s eircode can also be entered on the water quality section of water.ie to check if it is included.

When Irish Olympic sailor Sean Waddilove was asked to name his “coolest” location to sail from, he chose An Spidéal in Co Galway.

Waddilove, who represented Ireland with Robert Dickson in their 49er dinghy in Japan, is from Skerries, Co Dublin.

However, in a recent profile, he was clearly impressed by the stunning Spiddal seascape - and the hospitality onshore with local sailing club Cumann Seoltóireachta an Spidéil (CSS).

Dolphins have been known to do star turns off An Sean Céibh, and a pod swam with the club's fleet one recent Sunday.

The Spiddal club and its commodore Dave Cahill hosts the annual regatta on Saturday. (Sept 18)

Weather permitting, and with or without Waddilove and dolphins – there will be a keen contest on the water.

Racing will take place in several dinghy categories – Optimists, Pico and Topaz, and Laser/420 - under Portsmouth Yardstick rules.

Optimists, involving junior sailors, will compete on Saturday morning from 11.30 am.

Dinghy racing in An Spidéal in Co Galway will take place in several dinghy categories – Optimists, Pico and Topaz, and Laser/420 - under Portsmouth Yardstick rules

The main fleet of 420s, Lasers, Topaz and Pico dinghies will take to the water from 2 pm, with the first of three races starting at 2.30 pm.

Racing can be viewed onshore – particularly with a good pair of binoculars – between 11.30 am and 4 pm.

CSS is a bilingual dinghy sailing club based in An Spidéil, Co Galway.

It was founded in 2002 by a group of parents who were keen to encourage junior sailing, and its initial fleet comprised Optimists and 420s.

CSS has hosted both national and regional 420 class championships, and it is an ISA-approved training centre, running a popular junior sailing course every year.

CSS member Rob Talbot and Rian De Bairéid of Galway City Sailing Club were recent winners of the marathon Cong-Galway race, competing in a 420 dinghy.

Last year, the club initiated a new annual award in memory of the late sea kayaker, mountaineer and circuit court judge John Hannan, who died in February 2020.

The Hannan family were very involved in CSS, with Stephanie Hannan being the club sail training organiser for a number of years.

The Hannan trophy, a piece of glassware in the shape of a sailing dinghy on bog oak, was designed and made by Sue Donnellan’s glass craft design studio in An Ceardlann, An Spidéal.

It will be presented at the regatta this year by Marcus Hannan, who is also a very proficient sailor.

CSS is located in the centre of An Spidéil, sailing out of the Sean Céibh every Sunday.