Blue Flag record for beaches

IRELAND has received its highest ever number of Blue Flags for water quality with 78 beaches and four marinas being awarded the honour by the International Blue Flag Jury for 2005.

Dublin also emerged as one of only five European capital cities to achieve a Blue Flag status when Dollymount Strand became the first ever bathing area in the city to receive the prestigious award.

On a less positive note, four of the country’s best known beaches - Courtown, Curracloe, Duncannon and Rosslare which are all in Co Wexford - were among those which lost their Blue Flag status.

An Taisce, which oversees the awards scheme in Ireland, said the total of 82 beaches and marinas which attained the Blue Flag represented the highest number ever in the 17-year history of the awards.

The 2005 figure is an increase of five Blue Flags on last year’s total.

Environment Minister Dick Roche said the recognition for Dollymount demonstrated the value of waste water treatment plants, such as the facility in Ringsend, which has resulted in improved water quality in Dublin Bay.

Speaking at the awards ceremony on Malahide beach yesterday, Mr Roche said: “As new and upgraded sewage treatment plants come on stream, there is every prospect that we can continue to achieve an increasing number of Blue Flags provided that the necessary efforts are put into maintaining existing areas.”

An Taisce also attributed the new treatment plant at Mutton Island in Galway for the city’s Silver Strand beach regaining a Blue Flag for the first time since 1998. An Taisce spokesperson said similar schemes planned for Bray, Co Wicklow, and Ardmore, Co Waterford, should see further additions to the list of Blue Flag beaches in future years.

Other beaches which regained the Blue Flag status this year include Trá Coill Rua, Co Galway, Malahide and Donabate in Co Dublin and Owenahincha in Co Cork. However, seven beaches lost their Blue Flag including Portrane, Co Dublin; Doonbeg, Co Clare, and Narin-Portnoo, Co Donegal.

The four Co Wexford beaches did not retain their Blue Flags because of anomalies found in the analysis of their water.

However, a spokesperson for Wexford County Council yesterday reassured swimmers that the county’s beaches were safe.

To gain a Blue Flag, beaches and marinas have to meet a range of criteria including water quality, information, safety, services and facilities.

Kerry and Mayo received the highest number of Blue Flags with 13 beaches each. The four marinas to attain a Blue Flag were Killinure Point and Athlone, both in Co Westmeath; Kilrush, Co Clare, and Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford.