LIFEGUARD season needs to be brought forward, it’s been argued, after West Cork baked in sizzling hot temperatures and people flocked to beaches this week.

The council’s beach lifeguard service doesn’t begin until this Saturday and will only operate at weekends for the month of June, while it extends to seven days a week for July and August.

Cllr Isobel Towse (SD) said we regularly experience sunny weekends in May that feel more like August with beaches packed out.

Sunshine and temperatures of 27°C at Inchydoney Beach brought people out to the beach today. Enjoying the sunshine were Vanessa; Lucca & Leonardo Baggio from Clonakilty. Picture: Andy Gibson.

‘It’s high time that the council moves the season forward and deploy beach lifeguards during the month of May,’ said Cllr Towse.

The issue was raised by Cllr Daniel Sexton (Ind Ire) last year when the country experienced higher than normal temperatures in May. Cork County Council’s beach lifeguard service will operate at 12 beaches including Barleycove, Tragumna, Garrettstown, Garrylucas, The Warren, Inchydoney Owenahincha and Fountainstown.

A council spokesperson said the lifeguards will only be on duty at weekends for the month of June but will have a daily presence in July and August from 10.30am to 7pm, and will cover the first two weekends of September.

Ahead of the busy June bank holiday weekend the council spokesperson warned: ‘Cold water, rip currents and other hidden hazards can quickly put people in difficulty, so extra care is especially important when spending time near the coast.

NEWS 24/5/2026 Pictured at the beach at Garrylucas Co Cork where the remains of a Minke whale washed ashore. Picture Denis Boyle

‘Cork County Council is asking everyone across the county to take a few moments before heading out this weekend to think about safety, follow local advice and look out for one another.’

The public are also being reminded to enjoy the water but to be mindful of changing conditions, and to park sensibly and not block access routes for emergency vehicles.

The May record was broken with a temperature of 30.5C recorded at Shannon Airport on Tuesday. But forecasters predict lower temperatures for the weekend with rain predicted for some areas.

A juvenile minke whale was found washed up on the strand at Garrylucas beach on Sunday.

A spokesperson for the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group (IWDG) said while they are unable to confirm the cause of death, it was evident that the whale had not been feeding for quite some time due to its extremely poor nutritional state.

The IDWG thanked their volunteer stranding network members, Denis O’Regan and Jasmine Stavenow who went to Garrylucas to collect additional data, including measurements and a skin sample for the Irish Cetacean Generic Tissue Bank, which is maintained at the National Museum of Ireland.

‘All stranded cetaceans pose a public health risk. The removal of the carcass from the beach falls to local authorities and Cork County Council was informed.’

Meanwhile Cork County Council responded on Monday to a small collapse at Summercove, near Skibbereen. A council spokesperson said the mini-landslide resulted in some material falling onto the steps.

‘Warning signage is erected at this location to alert the public to the unstable nature of the cliff,’ they added.