New toilets at Keem Beach to be completed by the end of September

NEW toilets are set to be installed at the iconic Keem Bay by the end of September, it has been confirmed.

Funding of €150,000 was provided to upgrade the toilet facilities at the popular beach, which draws thousands of visitors to Achill Island every year.

Speaking at the monthly meeting of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District, local councillor Paul McNamara welcomed the update on the new toilet facilities at Keem Bay.

Cllr McNamara said introduction of a beach ranger and line marking of car parking spaces at Keem Bay had made ‘an awful difference’ to the issue of illegal parking and wild camping at the beach.

The popular tourist destination has been beset with litter from unauthorised camping and visitors parking overnight in recent years.

Swelling visitor numbers have also caused issues with traffic and parking, which have occasionally led to the beach being closed.

“The fact that there is a presence on the ground is excellent, it just means that there’s somebody there to coordinate the traffic if there is a traffic jam or a bottleneck,” added Cllr McNamara.

Elected members of Westport-Belmullet Municipal District were also informed of other projects which are currently progressing in Achill.

A project design team is now in place to progress the development of water sport facilities at both Keel beach and Carramore Beach in Louisburgh.

Collins Boyd Engineers and Architects are currently working on tender documents for both projects.

Funding for the facilities was first announced in 2021 but work has yet to begin on either location as both have been progressing through the planning system.

The Achill Sound village section of the Great Western Greenway is also nearing completion. Phase 3 of the Achill section of the Great Western Greenway, a five-kilometre section from Cashel to Bunaccurry, will also progress shortly. Landowners are due to be consulted on the matter before any work commences.

Cllr McNamara complimented all involved in the ‘excellent job’ on delivering the Achill Greenway, which was officially opened by Minister Jack Chambers last year.

“The way it has turned out has been absolutely brilliant for the community itself in Achill,” commented Cllr McNamara.

Cllr Peter Flynn welcomed the progress on water sport facilities at Keel and Carramore beaches, but insisted that they be in place for the 2025 summer season.

“There are other beaches; the likes of Bertra, Old Head, Mulranny, those beaches down towards Achill that would love to see similar facilities developed on them. Until we get these two over the line, we’re certainly not going to get the green light from Fáilte Ireland to proceed on those,” Cllr Flynn added.