Two of Kerry's blue flag beaches closed due to high levels of e.coli

Swimming at Ballybunion in Co. Kerry, one of the south-west's foremost seaside resorts, has been placed off-limits after high levels of e.coli associated with animal and human faeces, or a combination, showed up on Monday.

Two beaches - Ballybunion North and Ballybunion South, both blue flag, are involved and this is the fourth time this summer Kerry has seen no-bathing signs erected on beaches all along its coastline from Waterville in the South to Cromane in Dingle Bay.