Environmentalists say hundreds of holiday walkers on one of the south-east's most popular beaches and promenades have been forced to watch their step to avoid unsavoury material dumped there.
While it lost its EU blue flag in recent years, the beach at Tramore, Co Waterford, remains popular, with many Waterford people walking there in a bid to shed some of the excess pounds accumulated at Christmas.
However, a local environmental group say action is urgently needed to deal with sanitary waste. The Saleens Environmental Group claims their members noticed an increase in the number of condoms, nappies and sanitary towels on the beach on St Stephen's Day when winds and high seas combined.
The group says the underlying issue is the outdated sewage system in the town.
Mr Michael Whelan, the group's chairman, visited the beach several times over the holiday and said the sanitary waste coming from an outflow pipe appalled him.
"There was a high concentration of condoms, panty liners and other unpleasant waste. There was a large number of people visiting the strand and I understand that some of those taking part in the traditional Christmas Day swim from the Ladies Slip were also concerned by the waste in the water and on the beach." The group is calling for an emergency filtration system to be installed at the outflow sewage pipe near Tramore.
Mr Whelan said Waterford County Council was in the process of building a sewage treatment plant. "It may take up to two years for the plant to be up and running, even if the funds remain available to build it. In the meantime, the large number of visitors and new houses in the town continues to aggravate the problem." Waterford County Council say construction work on the new sewage treatment plant for Tramore is due to begin next year.
The Mayor of Tramore, Mr Ben Gavin, said the town is now 10 years waiting for completion of a sewage treatment plant. He also acknowledged that there had again been a problem in recent days with the system that is currently in place.
Mr Gavin stressed that Waterford County Council outdoor staff operated in the promenade and beach area early yesterday to clear the waste left after high winds and tides combined.