Restricted access to Mulranny and Achill beaches

BEAUTY SPOT Keel Beach is one of the beaches which will be closed to vehicular access from tomorrow (Thursday) morning.

Edwin McGreal

Car parks for all beaches in Mulranny and Achill will be closed to traffic from tomorrow morning (Thursday) as part of a response to Covid-19 concerns.
The closures are being organised by Mayo County Council in conjunction with An Garda SiochΡna and are part of efforts to try to get people to stay within the directed 2km limit of their own homes.
The Mayo News understands there were a number of complaints by locals in the Achill and Mulranny area of visitors to the beaches from outside the area in recent days. There have been similar concerns voiced in many tourism hotspots in the west of Ireland with reports of people travelling to holiday homes and caravan parks.
Popular beaches such as Keem and Keel in Achill and Mulranny will be closed to traffic and barriers will be in place preventing vehicular access.
It is understood the closures will remain in place for as long as current government restrictions to combat the spread of Covid-19 remain in place.
People have been asked to stay at home with the only exceptions being to travel for essential work, to shop for provisions, to care for people or to exercise within a two kilometre radius of your home.
Laws were passed last night (Tuesday) granting gardaí sweeping powers to enforce restrictions on public movement due to Covid-19.
A person who refuses to comply with the instruction of a member of An Garda SiochΡna who is seeking to impose social distancing rules can be deemed guilty of an offence and may be subject to a fine of up to €1,500 and/or a prison sentence of up to six months.