Galway's Beach Mats Are a Quiet Revolution in Inclusion
There is a moment in every parent's life when the world opens up for their child. For James Daly, that moment came on a grey morning at Ballyloughane beach, when his seven-year-old daughter Ruby rolled onto the sand for the first time. Ruby, who has a rare genetic disease and uses a wheelchair permanently, is non-verbal. But her father knows what she feels. Water and swimming are her great sensory joys.
“I am Ruby's voice and I lobbied night, noon and morning searching for answers for my little girl,” Mr Daly told us. The beach mats that now line the shore at Ballyloughane and Silverstrand are not just strips of plastic. They are a statement of belonging.
For years, the practical challenges of deploying mats on tidal beaches seemed insurmountable. The council and local groups worked through the difficulties, and now a pilot scheme is in place. It is a collaboration between Galway Beach Access Group, Galway City Council, Galway City Partnership, the Tús scheme, and the Irish Wheelchair Association. The day-to-day operation is handled by local workers, ensuring the mats are safe and secure.
Rosaleen Lally, National Access Programme Manager with the IWA, put it plainly: “We're all part of society, whether we're in a wheelchair or we're able-bodied. These blue flag beaches should be accessible to everybody.”
Shane Lennon, a disability advocate who campaigned for the mats, said the change is profound. “Ruby could not go onto these beautiful sandy beaches in Galway for years. Now, with these beach mats, she can finally join her family on the sand, feel the sea air and share in the simple everyday moments that many of us take for granted.”
Families are already travelling from Limerick, Clare and beyond to visit these beaches. That tells you something. People are hungry for a society that includes everyone.
Galway City Council Senior Engineer Sharon Connolly said the city is “delighted to work with volunteers and representative groups to come up with a workable solution.” The pilot runs until the end of August, with a regular schedule published by the council. If it succeeds, the hope is to expand the programme across the city.
This is not a grand political gesture. It is a small, practical step. But for Ruby Daly and her family, it is the world.
How do the beach mats work?
The mats are deployed subject to tidal and weather conditions. They are not left in place permanently, but are put down and taken up by workers from the Tús scheme. A regular schedule is published so people know when they can use them.
Who funded the pilot scheme?
The initiative is a partnership between Galway Beach Access Group, Galway City Council, Galway City Partnership, Tús and the Irish Wheelchair Association. It builds on a successful campaign by the IWA in Belmullet, where mats have been in place at Trá Oiligh since 2025.
What happens if the pilot is successful?
The council hopes to develop a longer-term strategy and expand accessible beach infrastructure across Galway City. The pilot is seen as a test case for wider inclusion.