Rain foils blue flag beach awards

A DIP in water quality because of last summer’s heavy rain is being blamed for a downturn in the amount of Irish beaches receiving blue flag awards.

A total of 78 beaches and two inland bathing areas were yesterday presented with blue flags by Environment Minister John Gormley — down from 83 last year.

Seven beaches have lost their blue flag status since the last awards, while four others regained the environmental prize or won it for the first time.

There was disappointment yesterday for Donabate in north Dublin, Greystones in Wicklow, Duncannon in Wexford, Bonmahon in Waterford, Youghal’s front strand in Cork, Rosses Point in Sligo, and Athlone Marina in Co Westmeath.

However, there was good news for Dollymount Strand, which recaptured its status as Dublin city’s only blue flag beach after a year’s absence from the roll of honour; Doonbeg in Cocounty Clare, which was also out of the list for a year and regained its flag yesterday; Culduff in Donegal; and Morris Castle Strand in Wexford.

Those that lost the blue flag did so because of deterioration in water quality, according to the department of the environment, which largely resulted from the heavy rainfall experienced throughout Ireland in 2007.

The blue flag scheme is internationally recognised as an award for beach excellence which includes water quality and local services such as environmental management and education.

Green Coast awards were also presented yesterday to 33 less-developed and less well-known beaches around the country.

The Green Coast scheme started from a partnership between five of the east coast counties and some areas of Wales, and the scheme was extended to all of Ireland’s coastline for the latest awards.

Minister Gormley said yesterday that the presentation of both sets of awards was “an important development, which recognises the complementary role of each award and demonstrates that a co-ordinated approach is being taken in relation to beach management”.

Ireland’s leading blue flag counties are Kerry and Mayo, with 13 beaches each on the list, followed by Donegal on 12 and Cork on eight.

Clare have a total of eight beaches on the list while Galway city and county have eight between them.

Waterford’s representation has dropped to two, Clonea and Dunmore East, after Tramore lost out some years ago and Bonmahon missed out this time around.

However, it is hoped that ongoing work on sewerage treatment schemes in the county will see a return for the likes of Tramore.

Blue flag awards were also presented yesterday to beaches in the North by Mr Gormley and Dr Roy Ramsey of the North’s Environment and Heritage Service.