A campaign has been launched to have a section of the famous Inch beach in west Kerry designated an area where nudists can go.
The Irish Naturist Association (INA) which has around 1,000 members, will be seeking support from candidates running in local and European elections for its plan.
It will also contact Kerry County Council requesting that part of Inch Strand be designated a nudist beach.
The association said that it intends to write to all the candidates running in the local elections in Kerry, seeking their support for a designated nudist beach in the county.
decided
"We decided this year, because of the local and European elections, to select a few locations around the country and try to get them designated as naturist beaches by seeking support from candidates running in those areas. Inch is one of these," said INA president Pat Gallagher.
He said that Ireland is one of the few countries in Europe that does not have designated naturist beaches, and people do contact the association to see where they can go to sunbathe naked when they are coming here on holiday.
"It could be a deciding factor in getting tourists to an area," he pointed out.
There are a number of locations around the country that are mentioned as spots suitable for nude bathers, and Inch is one of the unofficial naturist beaches mentioned on the INA website.
discretion
However, it urges people to use discretion at all times.
"Inch is already established as a naturist beach but, as it is not official, there is always a fear that the bathers could be approached by gardai. If the council sanctioned the beach it would take away the risk of prosecution," said Mr Gallagher.
Many of the INA's members are from Kerry and Cork.
Inch is famous as the spot where movie Ryan's Daughter was filmed. It also got a mention in Annie Murphy's book, Forbidden Fruit.
Enjoy our clothing free lifestyle!
http://www.naturistspace.org