The father of a 7-year-old girl who is a permanent wheelchair user, has described a new pilot scheme to install accessible beach mats in the Galway City area as “life changing”.
Ruby Daly has a rare genetic disease and is non-verbal, her father, James Daly says a key sensory motivator for his daughter is water and swimming.
“I am Ruby’s voice and I lobbied night, noon and morning searching for answers for my little girl,” said Mr Daly.
Ruby’s father added that the mats had never been used before “due to tidal conditions” and that it “has not proven possible to leave mats in place during the bathing season” as it took “considerable work” to deploy them.
James and Ruby Daly enjoying a day at the beach thanks to the new accessible beach mats
After a thorough review and the exploration of workable solutions, a pilot scheme is now up and running to provide accessible beach mats at Ballyloughane and Silverstrand beaches in Galway City.
The mats will improve access for wheelchair users, people with mobility difficulties, families with buggies and older people.
This initiative is a collaboration between Galway Beach Access Group, Galway City Council, Galway City Partnership, Tús and the Irish Wheelchair Association (IWA), to make Galway’s beaches more inclusive.
The day-to-day operation of the mats, subject to tidal and weather conditions, will be managed by Galway City Partnership through the Tús scheme, ensuring the mats are safely in place.
Mr Daly was encouraged and inspired by a successful campaign by the Irish wheelchair Association in Belmullet.
They have had mats fitted in Trá Oiligh, in the Gaeltacht area of Iorras, Co Mayo since 2025.
Rosaleen Lally National Access Programme Manager with the IWA said, “we’re all part of society, whether we’re in a wheelchair or we’re able-bodied and these blue flag beaches should be accessible to everybody.”
“We’re delighted that the mats are now out on two beaches here … and we’re delighted that the project is underway.”
An accessible beach mat installed at Ballyloughane beach in Co Galway
Shane Lennon, a local disability advocate who has campaigned tirelessly for the mobility mats said, “for children like 7-year-old Ruby Daly, this is such a gamechanger”.
“Ruby could not go onto these beautiful sandy beaches in Galway for years. Now, with these beach mats, she can finally join her family on the sand, feel the sea air and share in the simple everyday moments that many of us take for granted.
“Families are travelling from Limerick, Clare and other parts of Ireland to visit Galway’s accessible beaches, showing just how important and valued this initiative is,” she added.
Galway City Council Senior Engineer Sharon Connolly said, “Galway City is delighted to work with the volunteers and the representative groups to come up with a workable solution.
“These beaches are very popular destinations for visitors and families and we look forward to the outcomes of this pilot and exploring future collaborations and possibilities.”
The pilot will run until the end of August with a regular schedule published by the council, indicating when the mats will be in place.
It is hoped that a successful trial will lead to a longer-term strategy and an expanded programme of accessible beach infrastructure across Galway City.