No blue flag status for 4 Cork beaches

Cork, the country’s largest coastal county, has lost four of its blue flag beaches.

The county is only likely to get blue flag status for five of its beaches, all in south- west Cork — although Barleycove, in that region, will lose its designation.

The remaining two blue flag beaches in east Cork, Red Barn in Youghal and Garryvoe near Shanagarry will also be deprived of the EU-wide status.