TWO new all-terrain beach wheelchairs are to be provided at Garrylucas Beach for this summer season, a meeting heard last week.

Municipal district officer Brian Dunne informed councillors at a meeting of Bandon Kinsale Municipal District that Cork County Council in partnership with the Cork Sports Partnership have placed an order for both an adult and juvenile beach wheelchair for the popular beach from the start of this beach season.

Garrylucas will now become the third beach in West Cork after The Warren and Inchydoney to have the Hippocampe beach wheelchairs which can travel on both sand and water due to their balloon-type wheels.

‘In parallel a funding application is being prepared for a new electronic storage unit to house the equipment. However, this facility is not expected to be in place until summer 2027,’ he said.

Mr Dunne added that the long-term objective is to introduce an online booking system to allow users to reserve time slots county wide but noted that this will take time to develop and implement.

‘For the summer 2026 season, a smaller storage unit will be provided and lifeguards will assist with the release of the wheelchairs, working in conjunction with a local business, which will also support the booking arrangements.’

He also added that works to improve disability access at neighbouring beach Garrettstown were completed earlier this year.

He said that while it was intended to undertake an additional intervention at the beach, this has now been deferred due to the unavailability of the contractor prior to the commencement of the season.

Cllr Gillian Coughlan (FF) welcomed this latest news and said the two beach wheelchairs will be very popular and pointed out that a local boy who has never been to the beach will now be able to go there this summer season.

‘It’s in the public good and will be the legacy of this municipal district,’ she said.

Cllr Marie O’Sullivan (FG) said she is absolutely delighted to hear that these two beach wheelchairs are going into Garrylucas.

She also added that the Council is fortunate to have people who have land at both beaches, Garrylucas and Garrettstown and are willing to work with them.

‘Without them we would get nothing done,’ she said.