Irish naturists rally against raw deal

national | miscellaneous | news report Sunday April 20, 2003 01:39 by Mhatharaiche

IRELAND, the only country in Europe which still bans nude bathing, is facing a mass campaign by naturists for a change in the law. The Irish tourist board has been bombarded with e-mails from hundreds of nudists from Ireland and across the continent urging them to help establish a beach for those in search of an all-body tan. The Irish Naturist Association, which is leading the campaign, claimed it was being backed by four priests who are members.

The tourist board is being asked to help persuade local authorities that the provision of such a facility could entice tourists from countries such as France, Holland and Germany, which have a combined total of 4.6 million registered naturists.

Being naked in a public place is currently illegal in Ireland, but hundreds of holidaymakers break the law by stripping during the summer at about 20 beaches around the country. Pat Gallagher, president of the Irish Naturist Association which has 1,000 members, said that Ireland’s first nude beach was long overdue and would bring in thousands of overseas visitors every year.

"Irish tourism is missing out on a great opportunity," he said. "Lots of Europeans would love to come here, play a round of golf and then retire to a nude beach. That’s why we’ve asked them to flood the tourist board with e-mails."

Frank Quilter, a businessman from county Kerry who is also involved in the campaign, claimed that Irish tourist bosses were missing out on a chance to boost business.

"All they seem to talk about is heritage centres," he said. "I don’t think anyone packs their bag and says, ‘I can’t wait to get to Ireland to visit heritage centres.’

"But if there was a nudist beach, they really would be in a hurry to get here.

"There’s nothing perverted about it, it’s totally natural and respectable members of the community are involved."

The Irish tourist board declined to comment. However, Gallagher said it had been in touch with his organisation seeking advice on unofficial nude beaches, which it would forward to interested tourists.