KCC issues warning against swimming in this region

The answer was given in response to a joint motion which was heard at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting

By Ciarán Mather Published 16th Jul 2026, 17:00 BST 'It would be irresponsible' — Kildare County Council issues warning against swimming in this region | FILE PHOTOGRAPH / PIXABAY The answer was given in response to a joint motion which was heard at the latest Kildare-Newbridge Municipal District meeting Sign up to our Kildare Live newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know you can manage your profile, and explore all of the available newsletters from Kildare Live within your account.

Kildare County Council (KCC) has issued a warning against swimming in one specific region.

The appeal, which comes as the current heatwave continues to affect Ireland, was heard at the latest Kildare -Newbridge Municipal District meeting, which took place on Wednesday, July 15 last.

READ NEXT: Wildlife rescue group in Kildare releases appeal for these common household items

Near the end of this meeting, a joint motion was submitted by Fianna Fáil councillors Noel Heavey and Rob Power.

Their motion called on KCC to issue a report on ‘how improvements to safety and access to and from the River Liffey could be provided for local swimmers at Yeomanstown, near Victoria Bridge’.

The joint motion was submitted by Fianna Fáil Cllrs Noel Heavey (LEFT) and Rob Power (RIGHT) | LEFT PHOTOGRAPH CREDIT: MARTIN CONNELLY / RIGHT PHOTOGRAPH CREDIT: FILE PHOTOGRAPH The suggestion also received support in the form of another Fianna Fáil councillor, Brian O’Loughlin (Cllr O’Loughlin was also elected as the Deputy Mayor of the Municipal District at the start of the meeting), as well as Independent Cllr Tom McDonnell.

Fine Gael Cllr Peggy O’Dwyer then spoke and noted that Caragh Tidy Towns (of which she is a member of) maintains the area. She added that the group is ‘very keen’ to protect it, especially following reports that a number of vehicles had been parking too close to the river.

Cllr O'Dwyer also urged KCC to make sure that the life buoy in the region is not removed.

However, KCC responded via the report it presented at the meeting that it opposed the proposal contained within the joint motion, citing health and safety concerns.

This prompted Cllr Heavey to speak further on the matter — he began by telling KCC that he actually learned how to swim by visiting this region in his youth.

He also pointed out the limited amount of swimming facilities available for people living in Newbridge and its surrounding areas.

Moreover, Cllr Heavey repeated his call for safety measures to allow access to and from the River Liffey in the area.

Referring to KCC’s concerns, he said that while he ‘appreciates’ them, he stressed: “What I regret is that we, as a Council, do not have the capacity to make it safer.”

Cllr Heavey also claimed that people ‘will go there anyway’ and that those who do go tend to swim ‘in the mill stream or weir, as opposed to the main river’.

He concluded: “If we do something about this, I think that it would be very much welcomed.”

Read More 'They put so much in' - Kildare manager praises his All-Ireland U16 champions More efficient way of of assessing new drugs needed, says Tánaiste 'Stop use immediately' - Major recall underway for home heaters amid fire and shock risk Decision soon on changes to fire-damaged golf club in Kildare New update on €15m library coming to Newbridge Safety repairs welcomed for damaged speed bump located near Kildare school ‘IRRESPONSIBLE’

Despite Cllr Heavey’s additional arguments, a representative for KCC who was also in attendance at the meeting remained unconvinced.

They replied: “Knowing the safety issues in the Liffey, I think it would be irresponsible [to swim in this region].”

The rep also pointed to the multiple drowning deaths across Ireland over the past few years, and in particular, the recent death of Martin Greene, a teenager who drowned in County Westmeath after he got into difficulty in Lough Ree.

Furthermore, they said that with the rise of Climate Change, the area would be more prone to flash flooding in non-Summer periods.

“It is very likely that we will have weather bombs after this heatwave,” they warned.

The rep also told the councillors that ‘other locations [within the MD] may be more suitable’ when it comes to facilitating safe swimming.

It was also heard that KCC would have to liase with Water Safety Ireland if it wanted to carry out a water risk assessment for the area.

In particular, the rep took the time to criticise the ‘disgraceful’ theft of life buoys across the county.

“We are continually having to replace them,” they added. “I don’t want to sound negative [about the suggestion from Cllrs Heavey and Power], but I have to be honest.”

They concluded by asserting: “KCC discourages anyone swimming in this region.”

Cllr Power then entered into the conversation and told the rep: “While I take on board your points, and I am not qualified to talk specifically about water safety, but I’m just pointing out that there is a tradition [of swimming] here.”

Similar to Cllr Heavey, he also highlighted the limited access to swimming in the Newbridge and its surrounding areas — “We need to up our game,” he told KCC.

READ NEXT: Kildare County Council told that new car parking spaces would help small businesses in Newbridge