Yay or nay?
March of 2018 brought the news that the country’s first nudist-friendly beach would soon be established in south Dublin.
Hawk Cliff in Dalkey was earmarked for signage welcoming nudists, with the move hailed as “a milestone for Ireland” by Irish Naturist Association head Pat Gallagher.
The INA were officially organising the move alongside Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, which planned to erect notices to inform the public that nudists were welcome before the summer.
In the meantime, calls for more nudist beaches around Ireland were issued, as naturists began to get very excited indeed.
Back in south Dublin, concerned residents banded together, declaring that the area would become a “magnet for exhibitionists” should the proposed changes go ahead.
A letter to the Dalkey Newsletter sent by a local citizen in late July argued that the beach was a public amenity and “shouldn’t be hijacked by a few”.
All of which is to say that this whole thing hasn’t gone terribly smoothly.
The latest, according to the Irish Sun, is that those resident complaints have had the desired effect, and the nudist-friendly shake-up is on hold for now.
A petition signed by 33 locals in total has done the trick and now officials plan to get the views of councillors before any further action is taken.
So it’s your classic red tape situation, somewhat ironic given that red tape could do a decent job of covering up any unsightly offences.
Meanwhile, the argument continues to rage that Hawk Cliff is in fact nudist-friendly and always has been.
Independent representative Michael Merrigan told The Sun:
“The beach has been used for 150 years by nudists and I never had one complaint until the issue of the signs came up. This is all about the location of signage.”
Pesky signs, ruining everything as always.
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