Crying foul over Kilkee seaweed

“VILE” smelling seaweed is putting visitors to Kilkee off staying in West End B&Bs in the town. However, Clare County Council cannot remove seaweed from the beach under Blue Flag legislation.
The matter was raised at Monday’s Kilrush Electoral Area meeting when Kilkee Councillor Pat Keane suggested the council examine ways of removing seaweed during the spring and summer months.
“At warm periods, during the spring and summer, we have huge problems on some of our beaches, particularly in Kilkee. There’s one area that causes a lot of problems during warm weather when the tide goes out,” Councillor Keane said.
“We have to devise some sort of a way of alleviating this. There are people losing business along the West End because around the Ball Alley there’s a huge problem. When the seaweed rots it can be vile at times,” he told the meeting, adding that business is suffering as a result.
“There are bed and breakfast owners there that find it difficult to get people to stay there because they are not aware of what is causing the problem. I think we should look at ways of doing something about it,” Councillor Keane suggested.
Mayor of Kilkee Elaine Haugh-Hayes suggested that the seaweed be moved around the beach.
“The problem with the beach is the seaweed needs to be rotated on the beach. It is our prime area of tourism. During summer months every morning for three months, before people rise, there should be someone on that beach with a tractor. Our prime industry is the beach in Kilkee,” Councillor Haugh-Hayes stressed.
However, in reply, Clare County Council said it is virtually impossible to remove the offending seaweed because of Blue Flag criteria. Kilkee is one of eight Blue Flag beaches in Clare.
“Criterion 15 of the Blue Flag regulations state that algae vegetation or natural debris should be left on the beach,” Cyril Feeney of Clare County Council explained.
“Only if it is absolutely necessary should vegetation be removed and then consideration should be given to disposing of it in an environmentally-friendly way, through composting or fertiliser use,” he added.
Councillor Gabriel Keating suggested that re-opening the long closed seaweed factory in Kilrush might be a solution.