Galway beaches to trial wheelchair access mats after nearly three years in storage
Two Galway beaches are finally set to trial beach mats for wheelchair users — almost three years after the accessibility equipment was purchased.
Galway City Council is installing beach wheelchair mats at Ballyloughane Beach and Silverstand Beach in Galway City to gather feedback on their use.
The first mat was rolled out at Ballyloughane beach on July 21.
The initiative comes after pressure from the community and local representatives, as tidal conditions had until now prevented council officials from deploying the mats.
In early June, Galway City Councillor Eddie Hoare said it was an “embarrassment” that beach access mats for Galway beaches remained in storage at Leisureland in Salthill.
“We are making a mockery of ourselves saying we are an accessible city,” Cllr Hoare said, urging officials to trial the mats through a motion on the meeting agenda.
A response to Cllr Hoare’s motion to roll out the mats for the Summer revealed that Galway City Council has joined forces with the Irish Wheelchair Association and Tús for a pilot season. Additionally, the works included the installation of a dedicated storage area for the mats when not in use.
“To ensure the safe and effective operation of the mats, a usage schedule will be developed and published that takes account of tidal conditions and other operational considerations. This will help maximise accessibility while ensuring the equipment can be deployed and retrieved safely,” council officials said.
Feedback from the pilot at both locations will then be used to help establish a more routine and permanent solution.
In 2023, Ability West donated beach friendly wheelchairs to coincide with an accessible beach mat into the water.
“People with disabilities deserve and are entitled to enjoy Ireland’s public amenities such as our beaches. Galway has beautiful beaches and this pilot will make a real difference for wheelchair users and their families,” Rosaleen Lally, National Access Programme Manager with Irish Wheelchair Association said.
“This issue is to the forefront of everyone’s mind especially during the current heatwave but as an island we all know that many of us visit the beach all year round and people with disabilities should be afforded that same right,” she added.
This initiative is likely supported by the €25,000 from the Outdoor Swimming Infrastructure Fund the city council received earlier this month for beach wheelchairs and storage.
Galway City Council Head of Tourism, Sally Ann O’Brien said in early July that those funds would be allocated “to support the installion of self‑service beach wheelchair stations at Salthill, Silverstrand, and Ballyloughane.”
While the rollout of beach mats is welcome news, three beach wheelchairs, also stored at Leisureland on a “check-out” basis, are not easily accessible.
A wheelchair user previously told the Irish Independent that when they attempted to check a beach wheelchair out, they were met with confusion from staff as the wheelchairs were locked and could not be accessed.
Galway City Council said they are progressing works for storage huts for beach wheelchairs.
A weekly schedule for when the beach mats will be put in and taken out will be published on Galway City Council websites.
This article was amended on July 24 to include schedule information and added photos.