Did your local beach make the list?
A total of 80 beaches and eight marinas in Ireland have received the prestigious Blue Flag award for 2019, reflecting their excellence in environmental education, management, water quality, safety and services.
The awards were announced by An Taisce, the governing body of protected sites for Ireland, at a ceremony in The Armada Hotel, overlooking Spanish point Blue Flag beach in Miltown Malbay in Clare, on Monday afternoon.
The number of sites receiving the award is down two on last year’s record total.
Rathmullan Marina in Donegal has achieved Blue Flag Status for the first time this year, while all seven marinas awarded in 2018 have retained Blue Flag status for the coming season.
80 of the 83 beaches awarded in 2018 retained Blue Flag Status for 2019.
Bundoran in Donegal was unsuccessful due to a failure to meet the required water quality standard, while Mayo County Council did not apply for a Blue Flag for Bertra or Golden Strand for 2019 after both beaches were awarded a Blue Flag last year.
All three beaches were classified as having good water quality, but an excellent water rating is required for a Blue Flag award.
You can see the list of the 88 Blue Flag beaches and marinas in Ireland on the map below.
62 sites, meanwhile, were recognised with Green Coast awards, which recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty.
This year’s total of 62 is the highest number of sites to receive a Green Coast Award in Ireland to date.
Seapoint in Termonfeckin, the first site in Louth to receive a Green Coast award, and Rinroe in Co. Mayo are both first-time recipients of the award.
Cadogan’s Strand in Cork, meanwhile, has regained a Green Coast award for the first time in eight years.
You can see the list of 62 Green Coast award recipients in full below.
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