THE new Coastal Location Code pilot has been launched at Narin Beach.
Cllr Brian Carr first proposed the initiative following his family’s experience of a serious emergency at Tramore Beach last August.
The Glenties councillor and his two children were rescued in waters between Ardara and Narin.
He revealed to the Donegal News that he was worried that the 999 call centre could not identify their location and he then proposed the Coastal Location Code tracking system.
Speaking at the launch on Thursday, the Sinn Féin councillor said: “On November 2025, I proposed a motion to Donegal County Council and I am so delighted to see this idea treated with the urgency it deserves by the Council and Coast Guard and launched so swiftly.
“On the day of our family’s emergency at sea, a local eircode needed to be given and then an ambulance needed to follow a car to the location.
“I believe this initiative can save lives. By giving beaches and coastal access points a unique code, someone who finds themselves in an emergency can provide that code to the emergency services and allow them to identify their location quickly and accurately. There is no turning on your location on your phone or app to download.
“When you are dealing with an emergency on the coast, every second matters. Trying to explain the exact location of a beach or access point can be extremely difficult, particularly for someone who is unfamiliar with the area. This system has the potential to remove that uncertainty and give emergency services the information they need much more quickly.”
Cllr Carr thanked Donegal County Council, the Coast Guard and everyone who was involved in the pilot.
“I also want to acknowledge the emergency services who respond to incidents along our coastline every day,” he said. “This initiative is about giving them another practical tool to do their job. I hope the pilot across the initial Donegal locations proves successful and that we can see the system expanded across the country.”
The Cathaoirleach of Donegal County Council, Cllr Gary Doherty added: “This new initiative will save many more lives in the future. I hope this is the beginning of something that will make our coastline safer not just here in Donegal, but right across the country.”