Safety signs for Clare shore-fishing spots

Clare County Council is to erect internationally recognisable signage at three locations in response to the drownings of two foreign nationals in seven days.

The council's water safety officer, Liam Griffin, says the signs will be in place by the weekend after consultations with Irish Water Safety. They will be posted at Blue Pool in Doonbeg and two locations in Kilkee.

Peter Bedzlowitz from Poland was swept into the sea at Tullig Point near Cross in Kilkee last Sunday week, while Latvian man Olegs Artenjevs was drowned while fishing at Blue Pool in Doonbeg last Sunday.

Mr Griffin said yesterday that traditional worded signage in English was insufficient to warn the large numbers of non-Irish nationals of the dangers along the west Clare coast .

The illustrated signs will show a man falling into the sea as a result of backwash dragging him into the water and the second will show that shore-fishing is not allowed at the three locations.

Mr Griffin said the Blue Pool was "a notorious spot" and the council had relied upon the local knowledge of the Kilkee Rescue Unit to point out where the signs should be located.

"It could have been done earlier, but it is easy to have hindsight as no one could have foreseen those drownings," said a unit spokesman, Manuel di Lucia.

An Irish Water Safety spokesman said many foreign nationals would not be accustomed to the stronger tides that prevail off the Irish coast. "Today, we have published a list of tips for people to avoid the dangers while shore-fishing and if they don't follow these tips, we will see more of these tragedies," he said.

Irish Water Safety chairman Frank Nolan said local people should advise visiting fishermen of possible dangers.