Ireland is opening its first nudist beach

Are you brave enough to bare all in the Emerald Isle?
Shutterstock / sylv1rob1
Alice Howarth28 March 2018

Ireland and a nudist beach aren’t two things you’d necessarily put together - it doesn’t exactly enjoy the weather of the Costa del Sol, does it? - but it’s happening.

Opening in April, locals and tourists alike will have the opportunity to fling off the layers and bare all at Hawk Cliff in Dalkey, south Dublin, without fear of being reprimanded.

Reportedly something campaigners have wanted for years, Pat Gallagher from the Irish Naturist Association has called it a “milestone” for Ireland.

Talking to Good Morning Ulster, he said: "This country has had people using beaches all around Ireland for as long as I can remember for nude bathing."

"A lot of people would prefer not to say to anyone, but they would go on the continent to nude beaches or go to nude resorts on their holidays."

Gallagher, who discovered his love of being nude later in life, has campaigned against the prohibition on nudity for decades but has said in all the years he’s bared all he’s never encountered a problem with locals, something he’s puts down to choosing remote and hidden coves.

When it came to the popular area of Hawk Cliff being official okay-ed as a destination for nudists, people did have their reservations, though.

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People expressed concerns that children could be accidently exposed to naked sunbathers but Gallagher insists Hawk Cliff is "not really a family beach area".

"Certainly children shouldn't be there, it's quite dangerous. Any children that would be down there should be supervised. It's not your typical beach area."

When the beach officially opens next month, proper signage will be in place forewarning people and families that the area prohibits nudists.

Will you hop over the Irish sea to bare all this summer in the Emerald Isle? Let's just hope you can handle the chill.

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