Time to fly the flag for cleaner beaches
Some people will tell you they remembered the beaches in the David Lean epic long after they forgot the storyline.
Probably around the same time TV viewers were watching Robert Mitchum and Sarah Miles strolling under cloudless skies along the golden sands of Dingle Peninsula, vandals were doing their best to spoil a beautiful beach not far away in Tralee Bay.
People recalled how the patriot Roger Casement came ashore at Banna, near Tralee, in 1916. But the vandals’ recognition of such an event was to leave two burnt-out cars on the beach and cause a fire on the fragile dunes. Banna is among the country’s finest beaches and this latest form of littering is evidence of the disregard selfish people have for a fabulous natural amenity.
Last year, the international Blue Flag jury awarded 82 Blue Flags to Ireland, the highest number ever. Seven beaches, however, lost their blue flags and having litter on the beach is one way of doing that.
We’re all familiar with littered beaches with the usual pot pourri of rubbish. Quad bikes and other machines - even car and motorbike racing - are also causing damage to dunes in some areas.
Last February, a local group got together to clean up Inch beach and picked up more than three tonnes for their efforts. This voluntary group has now been put on a permanent footing to ensure the beach is kept clean all year round.
Another issue that has come to light is the abuse of familiar safety buoys, so essential when an emergency arises. Irish Water Safety (IWS) is concerned about the level of vandalism to this life-saving equipment.
“We’re seeing far too much interference and vandalism of these buoys. People are even using ringbuoys in bonfires on beaches,” said IWS chief executive John Leech.
Welcoming public cooperation he urged people to report incidents of such vandalism.
“We’ve had two convictions in recent weeks. Those people were fined e200 and while some might say that’s not severe enough, it’s a deterrent,” said Mr Leech.
Some people, he went on, even took the distinctive red and yellow rope that is attached to ringbuoys.
“We’ve been too tolerant for far too long with people who interfere with this equipment, which is paid for by taxpayers’ money,” he said.
The IWS has a programme to train primary school children how to throw the ringbuoys - a useful skill that could save a life on a beach, provided, of course, the equipment is available and in full working order.
Doonbeg, Co Clare, lost its Blue Flag, last year, for failure to comply with the requirements on lifesaving equipment.
But, Owenahincha, in West Cork, won the flag back after a big improvement in the litter problem.
Beach users can help retain Blue Flags by doing some simple things when visiting the beach, such as disposing of litter (or taking it home), respecting dunes, keeping dogs on a leash and cleaning up after their dogs.
On a positive note, improved water treatment is paying off for some of our cities, with Blue Flags being awarded to Dollymount, in Dublin, and Silverstrand, Galway, last year.
The new wastewater treatment plant, in Ringsend, is credited with significant improvements in the bathing water quality at Dollymount, the first Dublin city beach to be awarded a flag. This beach, as a new applicant, met the stringent water quality parameters for 2003 and 2004.
Dublin joined only four other capital cities with Blue Flags for beaches within their city limits, out of 28 countries awarded internationally. Those are Reykjavik, Helsinki, Tallinn, and Athens.
The new treatment plant at Mutton Island in Galway has also led to major improvements in water quality. Silverstrand won its first Blue Flag since 1998 last year. Salthill is on track for the award, as it must show compliance with water quality for two years.
Cork increased its number of Blue Flags by one, with the return of Owenahincha to the fold bringing the total to 10. Kerry and Mayo received most Blue Flags, with 13 each.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
