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Displaying items by tag: World Drowning Prevention Day

25th July 2022

Minister Appeals for Public to Heed Water Safety Advice and ‘Do One Thing’ on World Drowning Prevention Day

Minister of State at the Department of Transport, Hildegarde Naughton has called on the public to follow water safety advice and to recognise the importance of adhering with some basic precautions in ensuring that any water-based recreation is enjoyed to its fullest.

"Too many people have suffered from the personal tragedy of lives lost owing to drowning accidents,” she said today on World Drowning Prevention Day, Monday 25 July. “We all have a role to play, be it on the water or on the coast, in practising some basic safety measures."

The minister has joined the Irish Coast Guard in appealing to the public to follow water safety advice and above all else to be attentive to their own personal safety.

The Irish Coast Guard is supporting this year’s campaign from Water Safety Ireland which asks the public to ‘Do One Thing’ such as: learn one water safety skill, share one piece of water safety advice, change one mind around water safety or be the one who takes responsibility for water safety.

“While 40% of our population live within 5km of the coast, the majority of drownings happen inland. Drownings often happen quickly and silently with 80% of drownings occurring within the home county of the victim,” the minister added.

"We are asking the public today to be aware of the importance of water safety, to educate themselves and their families and to ‘Do One Thing’, whether that’s learning a new water safety skill or sharing your knowledge with someone else. We can all play a role in highlighting drowning prevention.

“I want to thank all of our search and rescue services and in particular our volunteer members, including Irish Coast Guard volunteers, RNLI and Community Inshore Rescue Boats.

“So far this year, the coastguard has coordinated the response to 1,500 incidents including inland, coastal and offshore. As an example of this work, in a mission involving coastguard helicopters and an RNLI lifeboat, a lone yachtsman was recovered from an overturned yacht some 70 miles off the southwest coast.

“Coastguard and RNLI personnel have responded to several incidents involving people becoming isolated on coastal areas with which they were not familiar. Volunteer coastguard and RNLI units have been tasked to over 1,100 incidents so far this year. Remember all of these services, including our coastguard helicopter service, are on duty round the clock.”

The Irish Coast Guard has shared some water safety advice on World Drowning Prevention Day:

  • If you see somebody in trouble on the water or along the coast, or think they are in trouble, dial 112 or use marine VHF Channel 16 and ask for the coastguard.
  • Inflatable toys pose a risk on any open waters be it on the beach, rivers, lakes or other inland waterways. There is a huge risk of being swept away from the shore or falling into the water. The advice is never bring them to the beach or near or on any open waters.
  • If you are engaging in boating activity always wear a fully serviced lifejacket or personal floatation device (PFD). Remember: no lifejacket, no excuse.
  • A special appeal to swimmers: only swim in areas that are supervised by lifeguards or in areas that you are familiar with. Always check weather and tides. Never swim alone and ensure that somebody ashore is monitoring your activity.

For more information on water safety, visit www.gov.ie/summerready and www.gov.ie/safetyonthewater. To find out about World Drowning Prevention Day and how you can raise awareness for drowning prevention, visit www.watersafety.ie.

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24th July 2021

Dublin Port Company Raise Awareness of World Drowning Prevention Day

Dublin Port Company has come on board to support Water Safety Ireland for the first UN “World Drowning Prevention Day” on July 25th by illuminating Dublin’s Diving Bell in blue, one of several landmarks taking part in the global initiative to raise awareness of World Drowning Prevention Day on July 25th. 

Meanwhile, Dublin Port Harbourmaster, Captain Michael McKenna is urging sailors, anglers, kayakers, windsurfers, kitesurfers, paddleboarders, swimmers and jetski users to remember to “Get your bearings — always think water safety” on the lower reaches of the Liffey and out into Dublin Bay.

McKenna was talking with Afloat's Lorna Siggins on the Wavelength's podcast here.

 More on World Drowning Prevention Day here 

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Dublin Bay

Dublin Bay on the east coast of Ireland stretches over seven kilometres, from Howth Head on its northern tip to Dalkey Island in the south. It's a place most Dubliners simply take for granted, and one of the capital's least visited places. But there's more going on out there than you'd imagine.

The biggest boating centre is at Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the Bay's south shore that is home to over 1,500 pleasure craft, four waterfront yacht clubs and Ireland's largest marina.

The bay is rather shallow with many sandbanks and rocky outcrops, and was notorious in the past for shipwrecks, especially when the wind was from the east. Until modern times, many ships and their passengers were lost along the treacherous coastline from Howth to Dun Laoghaire, less than a kilometre from shore.

The Bay is a C-shaped inlet of the Irish Sea and is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and 7 km in length to its apex at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south. North Bull Island is situated in the northwest part of the bay, where one of two major inshore sandbanks lie, and features a 5 km long sandy beach, Dollymount Strand, fronting an internationally recognised wildfowl reserve. Many of the rivers of Dublin reach the Irish Sea at Dublin Bay: the River Liffey, with the River Dodder flow received less than 1 km inland, River Tolka, and various smaller rivers and streams.

Dublin Bay FAQs

There are approximately ten beaches and bathing spots around Dublin Bay: Dollymount Strand; Forty Foot Bathing Place; Half Moon bathing spot; Merrion Strand; Bull Wall; Sandycove Beach; Sandymount Strand; Seapoint; Shelley Banks; Sutton, Burrow Beach

There are slipways on the north side of Dublin Bay at Clontarf, Sutton and on the southside at Dun Laoghaire Harbour, and in Dalkey at Coliemore and Bulloch Harbours.

Dublin Bay is administered by a number of Government Departments, three local authorities and several statutory agencies. Dublin Port Company is in charge of navigation on the Bay.

Dublin Bay is approximately 70 sq kilometres or 7,000 hectares. The Bay is about 10 kilometres wide along its north-south base, and seven km in length east-west to its peak at the centre of the city of Dublin; stretching from Howth Head in the north to Dalkey Point in the south.

Dun Laoghaire Harbour on the southside of the Bay has an East and West Pier, each one kilometre long; this is one of the largest human-made harbours in the world. There also piers or walls at the entrance to the River Liffey at Dublin city known as the Great North and South Walls. Other harbours on the Bay include Bulloch Harbour and Coliemore Harbours both at Dalkey.

There are two marinas on Dublin Bay. Ireland's largest marina with over 800 berths is on the southern shore at Dun Laoghaire Harbour. The other is at Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club on the River Liffey close to Dublin City.

Car and passenger Ferries operate from Dublin Port to the UK, Isle of Man and France. A passenger ferry operates from Dun Laoghaire Harbour to Howth as well as providing tourist voyages around the bay.

Dublin Bay has two Islands. Bull Island at Clontarf and Dalkey Island on the southern shore of the Bay.

The River Liffey flows through Dublin city and into the Bay. Its tributaries include the River Dodder, the River Poddle and the River Camac.

Dollymount, Burrow and Seapoint beaches

Approximately 1,500 boats from small dinghies to motorboats to ocean-going yachts. The vast majority, over 1,000, are moored at Dun Laoghaire Harbour which is Ireland's boating capital.

In 1981, UNESCO recognised the importance of Dublin Bay by designating North Bull Island as a Biosphere because of its rare and internationally important habitats and species of wildlife. To support sustainable development, UNESCO’s concept of a Biosphere has evolved to include not just areas of ecological value but also the areas around them and the communities that live and work within these areas. There have since been additional international and national designations, covering much of Dublin Bay, to ensure the protection of its water quality and biodiversity. To fulfil these broader management aims for the ecosystem, the Biosphere was expanded in 2015. The Biosphere now covers Dublin Bay, reflecting its significant environmental, economic, cultural and tourism importance, and extends to over 300km² to include the bay, the shore and nearby residential areas.

On the Southside at Dun Laoghaire, there is the National Yacht Club, Royal St. George Yacht Club, Royal Irish Yacht Club and Dun Laoghaire Motor Yacht Club as well as Dublin Bay Sailing Club. In the city centre, there is Poolbeg Yacht and Boat Club. On the Northside of Dublin, there is Clontarf Yacht and Boat Club and Sutton Dinghy Club. While not on Dublin Bay, Howth Yacht Club is the major north Dublin Sailing centre.

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