There are no laws against public nudity in Ireland – but would you bare all at the beach? 

UK naturist Helen Berriman caused a stir on social media after appearing naked on Good Morning Britain, raising questions about public nudity over the summer.  

Irish Naturist Association member Stephen Bolton told Lunchtime Live every beach in Ireland is effectively a nude beach.  

“It's not illegal to be naked,” he said. “As long as you don't cause stress or alarm – if you’re intending to do that, it’s perfectly legal.” 

There are some beaches more commonly used for naturists, and Mr Bolton said people enjoy nudity on beaches because of the “freedom”. 

“If you're going for a swim as well, having to wear shorts or bikini - when you get out of the water, it takes hours to dry off,” he said.  

"It's no judgement"

Fellow naturist Kate said she prefers “not having to worry about anything” when she goes to the beach nude.  

“It means if I'm going away, I don't have to pack as much,” she said. “I’ve gone to a couple of nudist resorts, and I didn’t really have to pack anything.” 

“It’s the freedom – it's no judgement. It’s completely non-sexual. You don't have to be self-conscious because we're all just bodies at the end of the day.” 

Kate said more people should embrace their bodies.  

“[Bodies] can do amazing things, women's bodies in particular - we can grow a human,” she said. “It's something that should be seen in a better light and not as sexualised.” 

"There's no morals"

Mr Bolton said once people try public nudity once, you gain more confidence. 

“You're worried that people are going to judge you,” she said. “But after you do it, it only takes five seconds to realise that nobody cares.” 

Listener Owen said he assumed public nudity was illegal and would prefer if it was more “restrictive”

“The 1935 Act was changed in 2017, which effectively allows anyone walk down Grafton Street in the nude," he said.  

He said the original 1935 prohibiting public nudity “tried to stop any scandal or injuring of the morals of the community”. 

“That’s gone now,” he said. “There are no morals of the community anymore.” 

"A hornet's nest"

Owen said he would prefer if some beaches became nudist-free. 

“I’d prefer not to see old people with gravity taking effect,” he said.  

He also said the law still prohibits public nudity for those under-18, which “opens a hornet's nest”.  

“Who is going to be the arbiter of what is right, moral or legal?” 

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