The summer is officially here as lifeguards report for duty

Ahead of the official opening of the bathing season at the weekend, 43 lifeguards completed their induction at Ballyheigue Community Centre. They are pictured with the Mayor of Listowel Cllr Jimmy Moloney, coach guard personnel and Kerry County Council water safety development officers Leo Hilliard and Niall Hogan, as they prepare to raise the blue blag on Ballyheigue Beach.
Photo: Domnick Walsh

A total of 43 lifeguards have been recruited by Kerry County Council to keep watch on the county’s beaches during the busy summer months.

Their duties commenced on Saturday and they will be on standby if needed during daytime hours at the county’s main beaches.

Ahead of the official opening of the bathing season this weekend, the lifeguards completed their induction at Ballyheigue Community Centre.

The stunning sky over the beach at Rossbeigh on Sunday evening

As part of the day’s activities, the coast guard helicopter arrived on site to provide lifeguards and local rescue units with a safety briefing and a tour of the aircraft.

Kerry was awarded 15 Blue Flags for the 2025 bathing season for facilities at Kerry’s blue flag beaches for 2025 are Rossbeigh, Inch, Derrynane, Kells, Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs), Ballybunion North Beach, Ballybunion South Beach, Ballyheigue, Banna Strand, Fenit, Fionntrá (Ventry), Maharabeg, Ballybunion South Beach, Ballyheigue, Banna Strand, Fenit, Fionntrá (Ventry), Inch, Kells, Maharabeg and White Strand, Caherciveen.

Fenit Marina and the privately operated Portmagee Seasonal Pontoon also received blue flags.

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