Hot spell prompts concerns over emergency access at Co Galway beaches

placeholder image — Dog's Bay in Connemara | Iconic

Ambulances and other emergency vehicles could face difficulties accessing beaches in County Galway due to ongoing parking problems.

That's according to Cllr Eileen Mannion (FG), who raised the issue at this month's Galway County Council meeting ahead of this week's hot spell.

She warned that while beach parking has been a recurring challenge in recent years - especially in Connemara - the potential impact on emergency services was particularly worrying.

“There will be issues with parking and there are concerns that ambulances can't get through to the beaches if needed,” she said.

Last year, she described how many beaches in Connemara could not cope with the influx of tourists and visitors on sunny days because of limited parking capacity.

In September 2025, she called on the local authority to put a proper plan in place ahead of this summer.

This month, she sought an update on the status of the Summer Ready Programme and called for a multi-agency meeting to take place as soon as possible.

Cllr Mannion said issues surrounding campervan parking and traffic congestion were likely to arise again during periods of good weather.

“We need to keep an eye on our beaches,” she said. “Illegal parking and campervans are still an issue.”

She also questioned what progress had been made to ease parking pressures at beaches having raised the matter repeatedly in recent years.

Cllr Mannion called for a meeting involving the local authority, emergency services and other relevant agencies to examine ways of ensuring access routes remain clear and identify practical measures to manage visitor numbers safely.

Her comments come as preparations continue under the Summer Ready Programme, with local authorities anticipating increased visitor numbers to beaches and outdoor amenities.

Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme