23/05/2013

13 Irish Beaches Lose Blue Flag Awards

New tougher EU water quality standards have resulted in 13 of Ireland’s beaches losing their Blue Flag status.

Ireland received 74 Blue Flags, down from 87 last year.

Another 12 beaches lost their Green Coast award.

Beaches that lost their Blue Flag are:

• Skerries South Beach, Donabate, the Brook Beach Portrane, the Velvet Strand Portmarnock, all in Co Dublin)

• Ballybunion North beach, Co Kerry

• White Strand Miltown Malbay and Lahinch, Co Clare

• Ceibh an Spideal in Galway.

And the following lost their 2012 flag as they did not enter an application this year:

• Dollymount, Dublin

• Morriscastle, Co Wexford

• Bunmahon, Co Waterford

• Redbarn, Garryvoe, Garretstown and Barleycove, Co Cork

• Old Head in Co Mayo

The standards for judging the beaches have been upgraded this year, as previously awards had been based on the 1976 EU Bathing Water Directive.

(MH/CD)


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