Water Safety Ireland has strongly condemned the recent act of vandalism involving the deliberate removal of multiple ringbuoys from their designated yellow housings in Galway.
The organisation’s deputy chief Roger Sweeney was joined at the Spanish Arch on Wednesday (18 June) by Deputy Mayor of Galway, Cllr Neil McNelis and Mike Swan of Galway RNLI, who echoed the call for greater respect and vigilance around lifesaving equipment.
“I am shocked and appalled that people tampered with these ringbuoys,” Sweeney said. “It is not a harmless prank — it is dangerous and irresponsible and puts lives at immediate risk. These devices are there to help save people from drowning. If they are missing when someone needs help, the consequences could be fatal.
“These ringbuoys are not ornaments, they are not toys — they are lifelines. Ringbuoys give people in distress a fighting chance at survival. When someone removes or destroys one, they are directly endangering lives. I cannot comprehend the mindset of someone who would take such a risk with another person’s life.”
Incidents of ringbuoy theft represent a worrying trend, Sweeney said. In Dublin alone, over 30 ringbuoys were reported missing in a single month, with an annual replacement cost exceeding €20,000. More critically, every missing ringbuoy represents a moment when someone in need may not get the help they desperately require.
“A stolen ringbuoy could mean a stolen life,” Sweeney added. “In an emergency, every second counts. When someone reaches for a ringbuoy and it isn’t there because of a senseless act, the consequences could be tragic. It’s the kind of impulsive, thrill-seeking behaviour that lacks consideration for the consequences.”
The organisation is calling on parents, educators and community leaders to address this as a serious public policy issue.
“We need to elevate this conversation within our communities as this is not harmless mischief. It is a civic and moral failure by a minority that undermines public safety,” Sweeney said. “Parents, schools and universities can help instil a sense of shared responsibility to protect public rescue equipment. We all share responsibility to ensure these lifesaving tools remain in place, ready to save lives.”
Water Safety Ireland urges members of the public to report missing or vandalised ringbuoys to their local authority or online at www.ringbuoys.ie.
