Anger over removal of diving boards

Kilkee-based architect and diving enthusiast Tom Byrne has expressed shock at Clare County Council’s decision to remove two privately funded diving boards from Newfoundout in the West End, Kilkee on Wednesday morning. The decision to remove the diving boards was revealed at Tuesday’s meeting of Kilkee Town Council.

However, in a statement, Clare County Council has said that the diving boards may be put back in place, pending an independent risk assessment carried out by a European expert on behalf of Irish Water Safety (IWS).
Diving boards have been located in Newfoundout for more than 70 years. New diving boards were installed in May 2009 and were launched by 78-year-old Limerick man Cyril Downes, who had 73 years diving experience behind him.
The new diving board mountings were designed by Tom Byrne, who says that he heard the news late on Tuesday night.
“Under Any Other Business the decision by Clare County Council to remove the diving boards from Newfoundout was taken without any consultation, nothing. They said that their insurance wouldn’t cover them. There has never been a claim; there has never been an accident. They take them away for the winter and they put them back up for the summer. That makes them liable but there’s never been a claim,” he told The Clare Champion.
“They were summarily removed this morning, (Wednesday) put in the back of a truck and gone. We’re absolutely shocked. I’m just at a meeting here in the Stella Maris about the Kilkee Sports Festival from August 23 to 28. It includes a diving competition. There’s complete shock here down the town that the council didn’t even consult anybody. They just went ahead and took them away; said there was no insurance and that’s it,” Mr Byrne added.
He has set up a Facebook site with a view to getting support to restore the boards and says that they were in excellent condition.
“They’re state of the art. They were imported from the US and they were sponsored by two local businesses. There’s a Facebook page I put up when I heard the news. I thought this was going to be a campaign; that they were going to enter into negotiations with the local chamber of commerce. I can’t tell you how much outrage there is in the town about this,” Mr Byrne added, noting that Kilkee Chamber could have been asked would they help to defray the insurance costs.
However, Kilkee town manager Nora Kaye has confirmed that the equipment has been removed due to health and safety concerns. 
Two diving boards and two ladders have been removed until further notice at the Pollock Holes while a further three ladders have been removed from three separate locations – Burns Cove, Edmonds Point and Georges Head.
Clare Water Safety development officer Liam Griffin confirmed that IWS has been requested to appoint an independent water safety risk assessor to conduct a full assessment of the equipment.
He said any decision to reinstate the diving boards would be made pending the outcome of the risk assessment and a further review of the situation by Clare County Council.
“While there has been no reports of accidents or fatalities at the locations concerned, we are all aware that a number of people have unfortunately lost their lives to the sea in Clare in the recent past and it behoves all of us to do what we can to further improve safety on our beaches,” he explained.
“Clare County Council and indeed all local authorities have a duty to ensure that the provisions of health and safety legislation are adhered to and it must take all steps as are reasonably practicable to ensure the safety of people,” Ms Kaye stated.
“Irish Water Safety has been consulted on this issue so as to identify if there is a way to resolve safety issues relating to the diving boards and ladders, so that the people of Kilkee can continue to enjoy what is a traditional feature in Kilkee down through the years. As soon as the risk assessment report is available, the findings and recommendations will be considered by Clare County Council,” Ms Kaye concluded.