In March of this year, it was announced that the countries first ever nudist beach would soon be established in South Dublin.

However, it now seems that these plans have been put on hold after a number of local residents complained about this proposed plans.

Hawk Cliff in Dalkey was meant to be turned into a nudist-friendly beach and was hailed "a milestone for Ireland" by Irish Naturist Association head Pat Gallagher.

The INA had started to officially plan the move with Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council.

They had planned to erect notices that would let people know that nudists were welcomed on the beach before the summer.


There had been calls for more nudist beaches to be introduced around Ireland after this was announced.

However, residents around this beach banded together to try and stop these changes to go ahead saying the area would become a "magnet for exhibitionists".

The residents sent a letter to the Dalkey Newsletter saying that the beach was a public amenity and “shouldn’t be hijacked by a few”.

The Irish Sun has reported that these complaints have had the desired effect as the nudist-friendly beach plans have been put on hold for now.

A petition has been started and has been signed by 33 locals in total and seems to have done the trick as the officials now plan to get the views of the councillors before they take any further action.

However, there is a debate as to whether Hawk Cliff has always been nudist-friendly.

Independent representative Michael Merrigan told The Sun:


“The beach has been used for 150 years by nudists and I never had one complaint until the issue of the signs came up.

"This is all about the location of signage.”