Volunteers at Sligo Bay RNLI have issued a warning over visitors planning a trip to Coney Island this weekend.
People are being urged to take advantage of the free Text Coney service to help prevent them getting cut off by the tide.
The RNLI text messaging service was introduced by the charity a number of years ago in a direct response to a coastal safety risk identified by the local community in Sligo.
The Coney Island causeway and its flooding tidal waters present a risk to people who are unsure of the tide times and the best times to cross from the mainland.
In the past, Sligo Bay RNLI has responded to numerous call outs around Coney Island that relate to tidal cut off and activities around the sandbanks and tidal channels.
The lifeboat crews can be restricted by water depth when attending these incidents especially during the crucial early phase of the flooding tide where people are starting to cut off or are bogged in.
The text messaging system accompanied by signage directs people to the numbers to text, encourages safer crossing and decision making.
Anyone planning to visit the island by car, bike or foot is encouraged to Text the word Coney to 51155 to find out the safe crossing times for that day.
