Donegal County Council has been asked to take action to prevent people from swimming at Murder Hole Beach in Downings.
The secluded beach is not safe for any water activities due to dangerous currents. Rescue volunteers have attended to incidents in the past, but a recent rise in summer visitors have sparked new fears for public safety.
Councillor Liam Blaney has this week asked the council to place ‘No Swim’ signs and life belts at the beach. The matter is now set to be raised with Donegal’s Coastal Officer.
The call comes after a number of swimmers and bodyboarders were reported in the water at The Murder Hole last weekend.
The dangers of the currents are thought to be the reason why Murder Hole has such a morbid name. Other legends say that the name dates back to the 1800s, when a young woman fell from one of the cliffs surrounding the beach.
The Murder Hole became an even more popular destination after being named ‘Ireland’s most mysterious hidden beach‘ by the Irish Independent in 2017.
Cllr Blaney has also asked the Letterkenny council division to seek an application for a car park near The Murder Hole. The beach does not have direct road access, however Cllr Blaney pointed out that a large number of cars were reported in the area over the weekend of 12th July. He suggested that the council could work with local groups to address parking issues.
Featured image: Murder Hole by Chris Hill for Tourism Ireland
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