The EC recently concluded that Naturism in Northern Ireland had developed and grown to such an extent over the last five years or more that it is now the time to cut the apron strings of SANER region and create a separate one.
Members numbers in Northern Ireland have grown from the mid-twenties to over 100. Although they are small by comparison with other regions, a five-fold increase is impressive by any standard.
The SANER committee, especially Julliette and Ivan Gill, encouraged the local Regional Organisers, James Ingram and latterly Kev O'Connor to establish a local swim - which was for a long time the focus of Naturism in the region - and also lobbied the Police (PSNI) to accept the College of Policing Guidelines in Northern Ireland.
The region now has monthly naked yoga in Belfast, regular weekend camps over the summer months in Newcastle Co. Down, a vibrant Skinny Dipping community swimming in the Irish Sea and two other outdoor swimming lake venues in different parts of the country. We have started what may become a regular board games evening at a Belfast Games store and the jewel in the crown is our annual Great British Skinny Dip at Portstewart which this year will be on 1 September 2024.
Becoming a separate region also means that the relationship between BN and the Irish Naturist Association, (INA), can be strengthened as BN members support events organised by INA such as the monthly Monaghan swim just across the Border and the Cork Naked Bike Ride amongst others.
Let's wish every success to members in Northern Ireland as they establish an Organising Team to grow and support Naturism in this new region
Photo by Sean Kuriyan on Unsplash