Northern Constitution : June 16, 1934

Ballycastle Rural Council
Control of bathing at Pans Rocks

1. That Mr. Neal Dallat be instructed to have the springboards erected;
2. That the shelter erected for ladies in the east side of the rocks be removed and placed in a position adjoining the present bathing-box on the opposite side;
3. That these boxes be used by ladies only;
4. That Mr. Bradshaw C.E. be instructed to submit sketch of a suitable shelter for men at the place usually occupied by them, with an estimate of cost of same;
5. That the caretaker be instructed to see that the shelters provided and to be provided are used for dressing and undressing;
6. That undressing on the rocks or adjoining strand be prohibited as well as mixed sun-bathing;
7. That ladies when finished bathing be required to return to their shelter on the west side of the rocks;
8. If these suggestions be not carried out in their entirety during the present season, arrangements be made for the adoption of bye-laws under section 92 of the Public Health Acts Amended Act 1907.

The Chairman - Why?
Mr. Hayes - You will never get it carried out.
Mr. Hayes - There is sun-bathing in every other place.
The Chairman - If every other place jumps into hell I don't see why Ballycastle should do it because that's what it really means.

The Clerk (Mr. M. J. Feerick) said the committee by their recommendations were only trying to make people a little bit modest.

The Chairman said they did not object to sun-bathing so long as it took place in the shelters provided for ladies and men. What they took exception to was mixed sun-bathing.

The report was adopted on the motion of Mr. MacAuley, seconded by Mr. Price. Mr. Bradshaw, as requested, submitted a sketch and estimate of men's shelter. Mr. McAlister expressed the opinion that the cost should be borne by a special rate from Ballycastle district.

Have you bathed at the Pans Rocks? Was it a popular place to go? Are these the same rocks as the salt pans mentioned by Brian Willis in his article on Ballycastle's Mysterious Carved Head ?
- N.I. Editor

Stella wilson nee McAllister - September '04
My grandfather Alexander McBride was drowned whilst fishing on the Pans Rocks on the 17th September 1909.

Your Responses

Leo Mullan - Apr '07
As part of my family history researches, I have been attempting to discover information about my great aunt (Catherine Feerick, nee Mullan, from Coleraine). I came across this article quite accidentally after entering FEERICK and ANTRIM into the Google search engine. I believe the Clerk mentioned, Mr. M. J. Feerick, was my great aunt's husband, Michael Joseph Feerick of Ballycastle.