Editorial: Council needs to act on dangerous 'hobby' of cliff diving at Newtown Cove
Children and teenagers climb, in some cases, high above what is otherwise an idyllic cove along Waterford's spectacular coastline, throwing themselves into the sea below.
Waterford City and County Council must act to enforce a ban on cliff diving by young people from dangerous heights above Newtown Cove.
For years, there has been a turn-the-other-eye attitude to the practice, which sees countless young Waterfordians engage in the hugely risky 'hobby'.
The children and teenagers climb, in some cases, high above what is otherwise an idyllic cove along Waterford's spectacular coastline, throwing themselves into the sea below.
At the weekend, a young swimmer got into difficulty after just such a feat. Thankfully, due to the particularly warm and sunny weather conditions, there were lots of people present to raise the alarm - including Cllr Frank Quinlan, a competent swimmer who understands what to do in such a frightening situation.
His quick thinking is to be commended, in assisting the youth and working with the emergency services, who were on the scene very quickly.
In this instance the rescue effort was able to winch the young person to safety - and they were given the subsequent medical attention that they needed. We wish them a full and speedy recovery.
In Ardmore last week students were forced to protest in order to make the Department of Education listen and pay attention to the ludicrous situation they find themselves in, in order to access bus transport to school in nearby Dungarvan.
The only remedy - which is not being offered to all students - is that they face the gauntlet of hailing the bus on the busy N25. Week after week we report on accidents on the dangerous, and high-speed N25 - the main Waterford to Cork Road - in the Waterford News & Star. How the Department of Education can view this as a solution beggar's belief.
The Department must find a better alternative - and looking to the future ensure that when September rolls around the same situation does not arise again. Waterford children from Ardmore, who attend secondary school in Dungarvan, should be supported during what is, in itself, a massive step for so many of them, commencing first year.
Students should not be forced to carry placards and march to seek a basic, safe solution to get to school.
Waterford city once again gears up for a fantastic weekend celebrating the gastronomic delights of the Déise. We wish the new team behind Harvest Festival 2024 every good wish for a bountiful event.
Waterford Harvest brings down the curtain on a season of excellent festivals and events across the Déise.
