Corkonians feel the breeze at Fountainstown

A lively sea breeze kept beachgoers pleasantly cool in Fountainstown, Co Cork, on a day that was tipped to potentially set a new heat record for Ireland.

Children played in the waves as they broke with only the slightest hint of aggression on the sandy beach.

On duty lifeguards are a big draw to Fountainstown beach for Eileen Woods from nearby Crosshaven, who brought her two grandsons, Frankie, 9, and Remi, 5, for the day.

“It’s a bit wild out there. You can never fully trust the water,” she said, keeping a close eye on the boys as they played in the waves.

“Fountainstown is very popular. The beach is long and open, it’s good for children. Angela [the local shop and café owner] has always been here and now there are saunas and food and coffee trucks too, they’ve brought more business here.”

But despite the proliferation of small local businesses by the beach, going there is still essentially a great, free day out – something families value during the long school holidays, Eileen said.

“When the weather’s bad, children will want to go to the cinema or something, it takes more effort to entertain them and its more expensive. This is a lot cheaper.” 

Her granddaughter Laila, 16, said that she usually goes to Fountainstown’s sandy back strand with her friends.

Although she has been loving the heat wave, she said she also thinks about the impact of global warming and how hot it could be in the near-future.

Eve O’Sullivan, Amy O’Flynn, Lola Curham and Syrah Kenna were enjoying the beach after just finishing their Leaving Cert exams, some just two days ago.

“It feels weird to be free!” Eve said.

The girls have applied for college courses but are still not sure about what careers to pursue, although Amy is interested in teaching.

They were concerned about global warming.

“I have a friend in France, around Biarritz, where it’s been 40C, that is crazy,” Lola said.

“I feel guilty about the climate sometimes,” Eve said.

Eileen Murphy from Douglas was enjoying a “delicious” toasted sandwich in Angela’s shop and café.

“I wanted to come for a walk on the beach. My sister usually comes but she said it was too hot today. But I actually think it was a lot hotter yesterday. I was walking up Maryborough Hill and I had to lie down afterwards, that usually would not knock it out of me at all.

“But there’s a haze and a breeze here today.”