Lifeguards look back on busy summer

Dromineer lifeguards recently cast their eyes back on a successful first summer on duty at the popular lakeside amenity location.

The team of seven lifeguards took up duty in early July and kept watch over the beach area daily up to the last weekend in August. They were there as part of a new service introduced by Tipperary County Council after the beach was given the status of designated bathing area, the only one of its kind in the county.

The team – Culann Hassett, Ellen Kennedy, Michael Hennelly, Aoife Williams, Oisín O’Driscoll, Ryan Gratton and Mikey Morgan – successfully applied for positions advertised by the council. They all come from a similar background as members of Neptune Swimming Club in Nenagh, and with swimming coaching and lifeguarding qualifications.

They had to complete a separate course in lifeguarding at beach areas, which was paid for by the council. They also had to pass a number of swimming tests, including towing a casualty between the piers at Dromineer’s bathing area.

DEEP END

Their introduction to lifeguarding was akin to being thrown in at the deep end, starting in July in the middle of that hot spell of weather when crowds were descending on Dromineer en masse. There were upwards of 30 people in the water at the same time on some days, more sitting on the piers.

While the lifeguards found the first two weeks very hectic, the numbers became more manageable after that. Unsettled weather arrived at the end of their term and there were very few people in the water, though Ritual Sauna remained as popular as ever.

RED FLAG

The lifeguards did have to put up a red flag on one day due to the presence of algae bloom near the shore, but the water was deemed safe to bathe in again the following day.

Fortunately, they did not have any in-water incidents to deal with. They helped reunite lost children with their parents or guardians on busy days, and generally found that their presence put people at ease and may have encouraged more into the water at Dromineer.

“There were lots of people who came up chatting to us. They were surprised that we were here but they were happy have us,” said Culann.

“It is busy, but we found people are careful in the water. It is a safe enough area anyway.”

They were aware of a small number of antisocial behaviour incidents during their time in Dromineer but did not have to deal with these directly. The lifeguards’ presence may indeed have served as a deterrent to the much-publicised problems that beset the area earlier in the summer, before they took up duty.

Working a roster of four on weekends and three to cover weekdays, the lifeguards were on duty from 11am to 7pm each day. Their base was a new purpose-built hut by the shore, kitted with first aid supplies, a defibrillator, VHF radio and binoculars. They maintained a constant state of readiness throughout the summer, regularly training in the bathing area that they monitored.

Reflecting on the summer over their last weekend on duty, all of the team spoke positively about the experience and hoped to be back again next year. Culann encouraged anyone interested in joining them to apply for the seasonal positions, which are likely to be advertised again early in 2027.

“It’s a great job,” he enthused. “Everyone who works here is friendly and everyone you meet is friendly as well. It’s a good way to spend the summer.”