Mullaghmore and Rosses Point beaches missed out on the southern bank holiday rush as Sligo County Council erected signs of bathing water prohibition notices at both beaches last Thursday.

High levels of Intestinal Enterococci was detected at both beaches and the likely cause of increased bacteria levels remain unknown. The ban was lifted on Saturday after a further test returned a positive result. 

One Fermanagh man who travelled to Mullaghmore for a swim on Friday said he was greeted with a warning sign on the entrance to the beach. 

“It was disappointing to go all that  way and then see the sign. I suppose it’s reassuring that they’re testing the water but for whatever reason this seems to be a more regular occurrence,” said the keen open water swimmer. 

“There were still a lot of families with children on the beach and they were having to keep them out of the water on a very warm day,” he added.

Sligo County Council told the Leitrim Observer that, “Bathing water monitoring was carried out in accordance with regulatory requirements on July 29th 2019 at County Sligo’s five bathing water beaches. Microbiological analysis on the samples taken at Mullaghmore beach and Rosses Point Beach were non-compliant with Bathing Water Regulations; high levels of Intestinal Enterococci were present in the sample. 

“In order to protect bathers’ health, Sligo County Council in accordance with National Protocol erected a Bathing Water Prohibition Notice at both beaches on Thursday, August 1.”

This incident comes after Bundoran’s main beach was recently closed for one day after a large amount of waste was detected floating on the surface of the water.

The waste was quickly reported to officials, and the heavily crowded beach was closed down. 

Extensive testing and taking samples of the water from all over the beach was carried out, and on Wednesday, Donegal County Council gave the all clear for the beach to be safely re-opened. 

Shane Smyth, Bundoran tourism officer reassured the public that the popular beach is safe to visit. Mr Smyth said, “We would like to reassure beach goers that the Main Beach in Bundoran is once again open for business following the recent incident and that measures are in place to ensure there is no repeat.”