Donegal’s ‘Secret Waterfall’ must be respected as a place that can be inaccessible and dangerous, warns Donegal tourism ambassador Noel Cunningham.
Noel, who is also Donegal Person of the Year, has called on people to be aware of the serious risks of visiting the secluded site at Largy.
It comes after a woman was hospitalised with a leg injury after suffering a fall in the area on Sunday.
The waterfall has become hugely popular with visitors in recent years, and is widely admired on social media.
But the location can only be accessed on foot, and requires climbing over high, often slippery, coastal rocks.
Secret Waterfall. Photo: Sarah Byrne
“If visiting the Secret Waterfall please be aware it is imperative to wear proper footwear and to be aware of tide times. A stunningly beautiful place it may be but it has to be respected as a place that can be dangerous,” says Noel Cunningham, who is a native of nearby Kilcar.
“Having grown up here and having played on these rocks I respectfully suggest it is not advisable to negotiate these rocks with pushchairs .. small children .. excess baggage or dogs!”
Noel has praised emergency services for attending two incidents at Largy and Fintra on Sunday.
Killybegs Coast Guard were tasked to their first rescue at midday, when a swimmer got into difficulty at Fintra Beach on Sunday afternoon. The casualty was rescued from the water and airlifted to hospital by Rescue 118.
The second incident occurred at 3.38pm near the Largy waterfall after woman fell and suffered a leg injury. She was transferred from the shore to the Killybegs Coast Guard Delta RIB. She was then brought to Killybegs Slipway where the National Ambulance Service (NAS) were awaiting to bring her to hospital. Rescue 118 were also on-scene throughout this tasking.