Plague of rats threatened status of Blue Flag beach, says An Taisce

ONE of Cork’s finest beaches nearly lost its coveted Blue Flag status due to an infestation of rats.

An Taisce, which administers the Blue Flag environmental award scheme, revealed yesterday that it had told Cork County Council to clean up its act at Youghal Strand following complaints about rats. An Taisce spokeswoman, Aisling Keane, said the problem was identified two weeks ago following complaints from the public.

Rats had infested a storm drain and the county council brought in specialists to dispose of them.