To refuse to swim on the east coast of Ireland because of the pollution in the sea?

[BabyMakesMyEyesGoSleepy]

DH thinks I am. We are heading to a holiday home on the east coast but I am absolutely not going to put a toe or allow the DC to go into the water. I just feel that its not worth the risk.

Why book a holiday cottage here if you're not prepared to swim in the sea? mind you, I've never been to Ireland in anything other than in truly miserable, huddle under the nearest shelter kind of weather, so swimming's never really been on the cards

What a load of bollocks. Ireland has 73 Blue Flag beaches, where the water quality has tested as Excellent, to very high EU standards.
I live at one of them. The water is more than good enough for your precious children to get on them.

Sweet suffering jesus...

No op is not being logical..you were taught this in school? Do you think everyone who lives on the east coast is radioactive?

Mind you, I was born in dublin, maybe thats where I got my third foot and stumpy tail from...

Of course I dont think everyone is radioactive,I'm not stupid,theres no need for personal digs, I will accept I am BU. Sheesh.

Radioactivity levels in the Irish Sea peaked in the 70s so depending on your age that could be where your school project data came from. Levels have dropped significantly since. AFAIK the seafood from the Irish Sea does have above mean levels but are classed within safe levels for human consumption.
Beaches along the east coast have also significantly improved and sewage levels are much more of a worry than radioactivity levels. Remember the southern beaches debacle. Councils do check levels so stick to blue flag beaches and surrounds and you'll have no problems. Let your kids enjoy their break.

Would you let your DC into the sea on the west coast of Britain?

It's the same sea.

Hmmm. I swam on a much vaunted blue flag beach as a child. Now much of it is closed due to radioactive particles being found, probably due to WW2 wrecks. So YANBU.

I also swam in a supposedly clean, unpolluted river recently. It was full of filthy algae and gave me a stomach upset.

Hence I'm not convinced by a lot of what we're told in this country. I used to do triathlon and the water is supposedly tested, but Ive heard of triathletes who developed leptospirosis after swimming. There are however some lovely clean lakes in the German Alps, Schliersee is particularly nice and the Austrian Worthersee too.

OP - I get where you're coming from. I can't bear to let my kids in the sea anywhere from Blackpool upwards. It's rank.

I once got a nasty stomach bug that lasted about three months and affected my liver from swimming in a river that at a local beauty spot.

Having said that many people swim in seas, lakes and rivers and have no ill effects so I think I was just unlucky and it's left me a bit bleeuuggh about it.

Quote - if you google most radioactive sea in the world, all the results will be about the Irish sea - it's a line that Greenpeace have been using for decades.

Decades?

Fukushima Daini happened two years ago, so now it is the most toxic bit of sea.

I would be more concern about hypothermia BTH.

I wasn't saying it was right - just explaining where the fear comes from.

I grew up in Dublin & like I say my mum was terrified of letting us in the sea. It was a common fear - the OP shows it's still around.

I know there are worse places to swim, but Greenpeace are still pedalling that line, having done so for decades.

I would be more concern about hypothermia BTH.

^^
What LeMuse says. I don't think you are U in asking re pollution tho :)

We never went down the wetsuit road as I felt it is important (to me) to be able to swim without one and not be too precious about the cold. Having said that we are careful about how long we are in for even now he's nearly 15 and we swim even when it's not sunny (or even summer)

Bray is absolutely fine

Yabu, beaches on east coast, and other coasts r fine and even better are beautiful. Yabvvvu to consider taking kids to beach and not letting them in the water.

But if you're that worried,why did you decide to go to east coast????

This might reassure you. Bray used to be known as a germ fest before this plant opened as storm overflows would go straight into the sea

www.independent.ie/irish-news/ireland-loses-13-blue-flag-beaches-because-water-quality-not-good-enough-29288859.html
Latest update on this yrs blue flag awards based on new EU standards

You can walk from Bray to Killiney or Greystones which are both blue flag beaches.

YABU

If you said it was because of the weather and sea temperature that would be much more reasonable. (Although I'm used to the south and west which are fresh off the Atlantic) I don't think I've been more than knee deep over there!

We went to Bettytown one summer if anywhere is radioactive it is probably there I map concerned but not majorly they played on the beach a lot but not much in the water due to temperature but it was such a short time I doubt it would matter. I do remember in college doing some physics experiment looking for some kind of cosmic rays and being evacuated from the lab because the levels were extremely inexplicably high turned out some guy had been given some radioactive compound that morning for a medical tests twas quite funny and got us out of the lab so radioactivity is not all bad.

Map should be was

I swim in the Irish Sea every single week and at the moment nearly every day . I am quite fit as a result, whether this is due to fresh air and exercise or the radiation we will never know. I have never given it a thought and neither do my children.

On the plus side you might turn into a superhero?

Brittas is gorgeous but don't go at the weekend, it'll be chaos!

Greystones is right beside lovely shops and restaurants in the village - better than Brittas in that way - you could even go on the DART from Bray and have some wine and not have to worry about the car.

DD was paddling in the sea in Greystones two days ago and still only has one head...

Same sea as north Wales which I've swum in plenty of times, have not turned green yet.

Now you mention it I was never allowed in the water on that side of Ireland as a child. Not even to paddle my feet.