This article is from page 6 of the 2006-07-25 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 6 JPG
A FAMILY who travelled more than 100 miles to visit the seaside in Kilkee was unable to enjoy the planned day out, because unleashed dogs roamed freely on the sand.
Distraught mother Anne Frances Doocey told The Clare People how she had planned a visit to the seaside with her young daughter Kay while on a day long visit to her native county, from her new home in Portlaoise.
The 12-year-old girl with special needs was looking forward to a rare visit to the beach last week.
But the young family were to be disappointed, because the presence of dogs on the beach prevented them from enjoying their day.
Ms Doocey said, “at least five dogs ran around without any leads” and there were many more on leads.
Her nine-year-old daughter Kay was too afraid to venture on to the beach with the animals at large, she explained.
The angered mother said she was not prepared to let her daughter on to the beach “for hygiene reasons as well”.
After spending some time in the pool and sitting on the wall close to the beach, the young family returned to their Midlands home very disappointed.
Ms Doocey said she was disappointed for her daughter.
“It is just not good enough. The dogs were barking and running around where the children were playing,” she said.
“Kay was petrified of them,” she added.
Earlier this year Clare County Council passed by-laws banning members of the public from walking their dogs on the county’s beaches from June 1 to the end of August.
As Kilkee has its own local authority, Kilkee Town Council, these by-laws do not apply in the seaside town.
Under the county council’s regulations, the public face fines of €125 if they take their dogs on to the beach, even with a lead, between 11 am and 6 pm during these summer months.
In cases that go to court, an individual can face a fine of up to €1,270. No such fines are applicable in Kilkee.
Kilkee Town Mayor Claire Haugh (FF) has appealed to dog owners to keep their pets on a lead when walking on the beach and to clean up after them. “The onus is on the dog owner,” she said.