Four Irish beaches that flew a Blue Flag last year have been stripped of the prestigious status for 2023 while three new ones clinched the accolade, says An Taisce.
Blue Flags are an internationally recognised symbol used to spotlight pristine beaches and marinas for water quality, environmental management, education and safety.
They have been doled out in Ireland since 1988, when 19 awards were given.
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This year, 84 State beaches and 10 marinas will be able to fly them with Kerry home to the lion’s share with 15 Blue Flags.
The beaches that had blue flags in 2022 and lost them this year are Cappagh Pier, Kilrush in Co Clare; Garretstown in Co Cork; Counsellors’ Strand (Dunmore East) and Dunmore Strand (Dunmore East) both in Co Waterford.
But there was also good news for Mayo as all three of this year’s new additions came from the county.
Old Head won its first blue flag since 2012 while Bertra, which last flew a Blue Flag in 2020 has been awarded for the 2023 bathing season and Clare Island.
While Louisburgh regained its Blue Flag status after losing it in 2022 for not achieving "excellent" water quality.
All 10 marinas awarded in 2022 have retained Blue Flag status for the coming season.
The Blue Flag Awards are announced alongside the National Green Coast Awards and combined Ireland had a record-breaking year with a total of 159.
It comes as the State celebrates the twentieth anniversary of its Clean Coasts and Green Coast awards.
The awards were presented by the Minister of State for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien, overlooking Donabate’s Balcarrick Blue Flag beach in Co Dublin.
Minister O’Brien said: "This year celebrates the 20th anniversary of Clean Coasts and the Green Coast Awards and I am delighted to present a record-breaking 65 Green Coast Awards.
"It also marks 36 years of the Blue Flag as an international programme and I am pleased to present 94 Blue Flags for the 2023 season. During its 36 years, the Blue Flag has become an internationally recognised symbol of high standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety.
"Today’s high number of awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the local authorities, An Taisce, local coastal communities and other volunteers around the country."
The Green Coast Awards were first presented back in 2003 to four beaches in County Wexford and rolled out nationally in 2008.
They highlight the important work of the country’s 1,800 Clean Coasts groups in which volunteers give up their time to do community clean-ups in cooperation with local authorities to help manage their local beaches.
This year has seen a rise in three Green Coast Awards compared to 2022.
The three sites are Bettystown in Co Meath, awarded for the first time; Mayo’s Carrowniskey Beach, awarded for the last time in 2019 and Rosslare Harbour Beach in Co Wexford, last awarded in 2021.
Cathy Baxter, Director of the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce, said: "It takes immense dedication and effort to manage a beach or marina to meet the rigorous standards set by these prestigious award programmes, and we extend our warmest congratulations to all the deserving sites that have achieved this remarkable reward."
The awards come just a week after the Environment Protection Agency announced that swimming restrictions are in place at three Irish beaches because of poor bathing water quality.
They are Balbriggan Front Strand, County Dublin; Lady’s Bay in Buncrana, Co Donegal and Trá na mBan, An Spideal in Co Galway.
The environment watchdog said issues including wastewater discharges, run-off from urban and agricultural lands as well as dog and other animal fouling have played a part in them advising ‘against swimming’ at the three spots for the whole 2023 season.
But they added that wastewater upgrades are planned or underway to improve the poor bathing waters. According to their 2022 bathing waters report, 97 percent of the State’s 148 monitored bathing waters met or exceeded the minimum required standard.
Of that number, 117 bathing sites (79 per cent) had excellent water quality which increased from 115 in 2021.
But the number of poor bathing waters also increased from two in 2021.
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