Irish Water had to clear an average of 16 blockages in the country’s sewage network each day last year as a result of inappropriate items being flushed down toilets.

Beaches and marinas across the country are bathing in the warm waters of European approval — 86 of them have been awarded the prestigious Blue Flag status.

A call for volunteers to join Ireland’s largest coastal clean-up and ensure Ireland’s beaches are in ship shape has been made as part of An Taisce’s Clean Coasts programme.

A number of the country’s best known beaches are expected to lose their Blue Flag status as a result of the devastation caused by recent storms.