Ireland's beaches and parks were busy today as the bank holiday weekend sunshine continued, with temperatures of over 20C countrywide and Mount Dillon, Roscommon hitting a sizzling 26.8C.
Water Safety Ireland issued a reminder to take care near waterways following several incidences of people being swept out to sea last week. The Irish Coast Guard tweeted a warning to the public "not to swim in unfamiliar waters and adhere to the 5km travel rule".
Dublin Fire Brigade warned of the dangers posed by paddling pools. "Drownings can happen quickly, silently and only in a few inches of water."
The DSPCA asked animal lovers to check for signs of heat stroke in their pets, including prolonged panting and dark red tongue.
Bathing spots such as Seapoint and the Forty-Foot in Dublin were reported to be thronged from early morning while gardaí set up checkpoints in the Phoenix Park, one of the capital's most popular outdoor spaces.
Sunbathers flocked to city centre parks, including Merrion Square, and the banks of the Liffey in Newbridge, Co Kildare, was another spot to soak up the sunshine.
In Galway, the council ordered a number of areas across the city to be closed off or restricted "to ensure social distancing".
Silverstrand has been closed off to cars along with the Claddagh Basin and the Spanish Arch. Blackrock Diving Tower is shut as is the car park at Ballyloughane beach.
Kerry County Council said that "due to high traffic volumes" Inch Beach and its car park were closed to the public for the duration of the weekend, following a request from An Garda Síochána.
According to local media, gardaí in Kerry have turned back over 100 people who were in breach of the 5km limit, including some individuals who had travelled over 30km from home.
"They're conducting checkpoints around the county today, in an effort to ensure people adhere to the public health measures," Radio Kerry tweeted.
We need your consent to load this rte-player contentWe use rte-player to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review their details and accept them to load the content.Manage Preferences
In Donegal, gardaí closed vehicle access to Rossnowlagh beach yesterday after large crowds were reported to have gathered there.
Using a paddling pool today?
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) May 30, 2020
Drownings can happen quickly, silently and only in a few inches of water.
Never take your eyes off children when they are around water.
Most importantly, empty them when they are not in use and turn them upside down.#HoldFirm pic.twitter.com/QwrYOAatZF
In south Dublin, Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council confirmed that all its beaches were open again and reminded visitors to "swim and go" to ensure safe physical distancing over the weekend.
All dlr beaches are now open again, but it is your personal responsibility to ensure safe physical distance if you're visiting them this weekend. If you're going for a dip, remember to #SwimAndGo, enjoy your swim but let the next person in! respect others and stay safe. pic.twitter.com/6HN3S5PKiV
— dlrcc (@dlrcc) May 30, 2020
Meanwhile, police were attacked while dispersing a large crowd from a beach in Co Down, Northern Ireland.
Four youths were arrested after officers were called to clear a gathering of around 200 from Ballyholme beach near Bangor last night.
A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statement said: "One police officer was injured after she was kicked in the face." A 17-year-old youth has been charged with offences including assault on police.
Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd said: "I understand that as time goes on, and with the current spell of good weather, some people may be tempted to get out and about and make the most of the sunshine.
"However, the latest data available shows that the R (infection rate) number, which was flattening/falling, has actually increased again as restrictions have been eased."
The PSNI has increased patrols at beauty spots and beaches, focusing on crowds gathering in breach of the coronavirus regulations, alcohol consumption in public places, speeding and drink driving.
