Harbour users plan protests on bylaws

Kerry County Council is to ban swimming near piers, introduce a fee for parking near beaches and charge for mooring small boats as part of controversial draft harbour bylaws.

The regulations, which the council insists are necessary for proper control as well as to address health and safety concerns, will apply to 16 harbours and piers.

These include the Gaeltacht areas of Brandon in north Kerry, as well as Ballydavid and Ventry on the Dingle peninsula. Among other areas affected are Kell’s Bay on the Iveragh Peninsula and Knightstown on Valentia Island.