Wheelchair-bound beach lover ‘thrilled’ to drive back on to the beach

Louise Walsh

An 84-year-old wheelchair bound beach lover says he is 'thrilled' he is now able to drive back onto the Meath shoreline again, after being given access to special designated spaces

John Watters has been driving onto the beaches at Laytown/Bettystown since he lost his limbs 12 years ago, to read the newspapers and catch up with other elderly motorists.

However the cocooner has missed his daily routine dreadfully since the beaches were closed and he was forced to cocoon in his Bettystown home from March due to Covid-19 restrictions.

In recent weeks, he feared he may never be able to go on the sands independently again as Meath Co Council decided that the beach would be car free until at least September.

However, John was able to get onto the beach again after being given access to one of ten spaces designated for people with disabilities or older people

"I'm a very happy man, I'll tell you that," said John

"I've lived along the coasts and on this beach all my life growing up in Donnycarney and now living in Bettystown.

"However since I lost my left leg to sepsis twelve years ago, I can only get onto the beach by driving.

"I'm confined to a wheelchair, which can be very hard to push over sand and I can only really walk around the car using crutches.

"Every day for the last 12 years, I've bought the papers and a cup of coffee and driven onto the beach to read them and look out at the ocean and chat to others.

"The beach is really part of what keeps me going and something I can still do independently.

"I know some people argue against cars on the beach but I for one am very relieved that I'll be able to continue driving onto the beach."

Local Fine Gael Cllr Paddy Meade said: “I’m delighted that the council were persuaded to install these spaces to cater for people like John but in reality we need another 200 spaces alongside it.”