85 Blue Flags were awarded throughout the country.
Four Irish beaches throughout Ireland have lost their blue flag status following a prize-giving ceremony by An Taisce in Portmarnock on Thursday.
141 awards were handed out in a ceremony attended by Minister for the Environment Simon Coveney, including the awarding of the internationally-renowned blue flag award to 79 beaches and six marinas in Ireland.
https://twitter.com/BlueFlagIreland/status/735814104326242304
The number of blue flags awarded was just one down on the 2015 figure, with four beaches losing their blue flag status.
Portrane in Dublin, Garretstown in Cork and Redbarn in Youghal all lost their blue flags because of a dip in water quality, while Ross Strand in Killala in Mayo had less lifeguard cover than advised during in-season control visits.
Kerry was awarded the most blue flags with 14 in total, followed by Donegal with 13 and Mayo with 11.
