New Equipment To Support Disabled Water Sports Users In Accessibility Boost For Bray Harbour

Bray Harbour is to become significantly more accessible for disabled water sports participants following the introduction of specialist equipment secured through local advocacy and sports development support.

Social Democrats Caroline Winstanley has hailed Wicklow Sports Partnership, after developments emerged that will see a beach wheelchair and a portable hoist commissioned to help remove long-standing physical barriers faced by athletes with disabilities taking part in harbour-based activities.

The initiative was driven in part by the experience of Bray rower Keith Armstrong, a member of Bray Rowing Club, who had recently received a specially adapted boat.

Despite the new equipment, he had been reliant on fellow club members to physically lift him in and out of the vessel — a situation that highlighted the need for a more sustainable and independent access solution.

Under the new arrangements, a beach wheelchair will allow users to navigate the harbour environment regardless of tide conditions, providing direct access to the water’s edge.

A portable hoist will also be installed, enabling users to be safely lowered into boats from the pontoon without manual lifting assistance.

Both pieces of equipment will be available for shared use across clubs operating at Bray Harbour, broadening access for the wider disability community and supporting participation in water sports with greater independence and dignity.

Speaking on the development, Cllr Caroline Winstanley said:

“Every person should be able to enjoy the wonderful amenity that Bray Harbour offers. I am delighted to have worked with the sports partnership to put in place practical solutions that will make a real difference to Keith and others with disabilities who want to take part in water sports.”

Councillor Winstanley told East Coast FM how they hope to broaden availability in due course.

''We will see how the beach wheelchair operates along the whole of Bray Beach. Bray Beach is very, I suppose it's like a complex beach because it has the dips and it's very impacted by the tide. So the plan is if the beach wheelchair works along the rest of the beach, then another one will be purchased and much like British Bay, then there can be a rental scheme where the public can use the facility.''

She further told us how she came to realise of the need for such equipment:

''When I was canvassing for the local elections, people were saying to me on the doors, why doesn't Bray have a beach wheelchair? Why don't we have these facilities? The more you kind of meet people in the community, the more you realise there's such a demand for these accessibility tools. One lady who hasn't been able to get onto the beach for years because of her wheelchair. She's been missing out on watching her kids play and she'd just like to be able to get down on the beach just to be with them. When she starts talking about these things, you realise actually there's a really big demand for making grey as accessible as possible.''

Bray rower Keith Armstrong welcomed the arrival of the new equipment, saying it represents a major step forward for inclusivity:

“I just want to get out on the water like everyone else. If I can do it, anyone can. I hope this equipment encourages other disabled people in Bray to give rowing, or any water sport a go.”

The development forms part of a wider push to improve accessibility in community sport across Wicklow, with hopes that similar initiatives could be adopted at other coastal and inland facilities in the future.