An investigation has been launched after one gathering in Killiney in Dublin two weeks ago attracted a crowd of more than 500 people and a second one planned for Dalkey island last weekend was foiled at the last minute by gardai.
The Killiney party, which featured live DJs, was held on a secluded cove known as White Rock, about 10 miles south of Dublin. Up to 30 gardai, with helicopter backup, took more than three hours to disperse the crowd.
The police were notified after locals on the exclusive Vico Road complained about noise. When gardai arrived on the scene, they found a rave in full swing with generators providing power for music equipment. Some of those who attended described the police reaction as heavy-handed.
The Dalkey event was stopped last week after gardai intercepted groups of people trying to make their way to a dock from which boats could be taken to the island, about a quarter of a mile offshore.
It is understood that similar parties also have taken place on Donabate strand in Dublin and possibly Bettystown beach in Co Meath.
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The parties are highly organised, with buses running to the venues from the city centre, and their location and time spread among dance fans through internet chatrooms and by text message. The venues for the raves, which are generally peaceful events, are always kept secret until shortly before they begin.
Such organised beach parties first emerged in Dublin about two years ago and were simply monitored by gardai. However, following a number of parties in the Devil’s Glen Wood, Roundwood, and Brittas Bay, all in Co Wicklow, gardai started to clamp down. At one party, attended by over 1,000 people, four people were arrested. Three were charged with criminal damage and one with organising illegal activity.
One garda source in Dublin said the gardai were now planning to interview the alleged organisers of the Killiney party and possibly prosecute them.
“These parties break a number of laws. They involve illegal outdoor drinking, the illegal organising of a dance in a public place, and they are in breach of the public order act. They are dangerous for those attending, noisy and anti-social.”
He said that in most cases those attending did not cause trouble. “They are generally decent people. Our main concern is for their safety. At the party in Killiney, they were going up and down these dangerous steps, and they were hanging around on cliffs. If something happened, we would be blamed for not stopping it,” he said.
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One person who attended the Killiney party complained that the gardai were “over the top”. Another person who regularly attends these beach parties said they generally passed off without any difficulties.