Most of us pack a fleece if we're heading for the coast - but some of us insist on packing nothing at at all, writes Yvonne Gordon

If you thought naturists were confined to beaches abroad, where climates are a little friendlier to the naked body and where there's no risk of an icy wind reaching parts normally kept well under wraps, it's time to think again. Naturists use many of Ireland's secluded beaches each summer and have been campaigning for years for officially approved "clothing optional" beaches.

According to Pat Gallagher, president of the Irish Naturist Association, naturists regularly arrange to meet at a beach informally or organise an official naturist club outing.These beaches are also listed in an International Naturist Federation publication, so visiting naturists can look up a local beach and check it out - weather permitting, of course.

One of the main ways people get involved in naturism is during foreign holidays, when they may "wander down a beach and discover that, at the far end, suddenly everybody is nude", says Gallagher. "They're amazed at this sight. The second day after that, they're down there lying on the beach themselves. I've heard this story so many times."

One of the common misconceptions about naturism is that it is sexual or titillating. "It's not a sexual thing," says Gallagher. "That's not to say that we're not sexual people, but public nudity is not very sexual." He believes naturism is more about a sense of freedom and well-being and a realisation that you don't really need to wear clothes just to sunbathe or go swimming. And it may be more practical. "If you've just been swimming in the sea, when you come out your bathing costume is wet and soggy. You dry off your body with a towel but you're still wearing damp clothing. When you come out of the water without swimming trunks or a bathing costume, you just simply towel off and let the sun dry your body."

The Irish Naturist Association, which was formed in 1965 by a group of people who met on holidays, has about 1,000 members. Irish naturists kept a low profile until the late 1980s, but since the mid 1990s the movement has become more widely known through its campaign for official beaches.

In Ireland public nudity can be an offence; you could be prosecuted even for being naked on private land seen from a public place. The association would like to gain recognition for naturism and to have legalised designated areas in Ireland.

There are two main clubs: the Southern Naturist Club, which serves the Cork and Limerick areas, and Club Aquarius, which serves the Dublin area. Both organise social functions that include weekly swim and sauna sessions during winter, and beach outings and camping weekends during summer.

"We had a camping weekend about three weeks ago in Co Meath and we have one coming up in a private site," says Gallagher. "The site belongs to people we know and it has its own little lake. We're hoping to get a good turnout on that one. The weather on the previous one wasn't good, so it wasn't too well attended, but if the weather is good maybe we'd get 100 with any bit of luck."

Many nudists believe going unclothed is good for the health. Club Aquarius's founding principle is of naturism as "a way to live in harmony with nature". The club says "nudity in common" promotes "respect of oneself, of others and of the environment".

"Liz", one of its members, says many of the group have a broadly naturist view of life, supporting recycling and similar schemes, for example, but would not go "overboard" on the philosophical aspects of naturism. Liz says other people's attitudes still make it difficult to be a naturist in Ireland - and made her unwilling to be named.

Gallagher says the issue of residents' objections doesn't arise when naturists gather on Irish beaches, as they choose spots that are out of the way and not overlooked. "To get to the end of the beach we use there would be a bit of trekking involved," he says.

So what about our weather: is it not normally a bit cold? "When the weather is good enough for everybody to go to the beach it's good enough for us to go to the beach. A small pair of bathing trunks is not going to keep you very warm."

The Irish Naturist Association's

list of unofficial nudist beaches includes:

Co Cork Clonakilty Bay;

Long Strand, Clonakilty

Co Dublin Corballis, Donabate;

Vico Road, Dalkey

Co Galway Silver Strand; Roundstone

Co Kerry Inch

Co Mayo Bartraw, Westport;

Trawmore, Achill Island

Co Sligo Yellow Strand;

Trawalua Strand

Co Wexford Curracloe;

Brittas Bay

Contact the association on 086-8370395 for precise

locations of naturist areas.

As these are not official

naturist beaches, please use

your discretion at all times