DONABATE IN north Dublin, Greystones south beach in Co Wicklow, Youghal front strand, Co Cork and Rosses Point, Co Sligo are among six well-known beaches which have lost their coveted international blue flag status for beach excellence this year due to poor water quality.
Meanwhile, a popular section of Portrush beach in Northern Ireland, known as the East or Curran Strand, also lost its blue flag this year.
However, three other beaches in the Republic, including Dollymount in Dublin and Morriscastle in Wexford, gained blue flags this year. Another, Seapoint in south Dublin, had its blue flag reinstated following a suspension last year.
This means that the total number of bathing areas and marinas in the State with blue flags now stands at 80, down from 83 a year ago.
A total of seven beaches in Northern Ireland also received a blue flag. While this is the same number as last year, Curran Strand, Portrush, was replaced by Downhill beach in Castlerock, Derry.
A total of 33 awards were also made yesterday as part of the separate "Green Coast" programme, which generally applies to beaches with excellent water quality but which may be less developed or more rural in nature, meaning the full range of blue flag facilities may not be appropriate there.
Speaking at the joint presentation of the awards in Louth yesterday, which was also attended by Dr Roy Ramsey, director of environmental protection with Northern Ireland's Environment and Heritage Service, the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley TD, said it was "disappointing for all when flags are lost".
He said the losses were due to a deterioration in water quality in some areas, resulting largely from last year's heavy rainfall.
Blue flag awards are presented annually to beaches with excellent water quality which provide a range of services and meet other criteria such as environmental management and education.
The scheme is administered in Ireland by An Taisce, which inspects beaches and conducts an initial assessment of applications which are based partly on the previous year's bathing water quality results.
Jimmy McVeigh, blue flag manager with An Taisce, told The Irish Times that when particularly heavy rains occur - as was the case last year - this can increase run-off from land into rivers and ultimately the sea. As a result, animal and other waste can get into sea water, which is regularly tested as part of the criteria for obtaining blue flag status.
Mr McVeigh said it was important to note that failure to obtain a blue flag award did not necessarily mean a beach was unsafe to swim in, as blue flag guidelines are "incredibly strict".
"I was particularly shocked by Rosses Point - this would have been its 20th year with a blue flag this year," he said.
He said he hoped that the impact of ongoing Government work to improve water treatment would be reflected in next year's recipient list, adding that overdevelopment in a particular area can contribute to poor water quality.
An Taisce suspended blue flag status at Seapoint beach in Dublin following an increase in the level of bacteria in the bathing water last year. However, the beach has been reinstated following the receipt of results of water samples.
Swimmers at the popular south Dublin bathing spot had complained of the colour and odour of the water last autumn, as well as the presence of detritus on the beach.
Last month, the Environmental Protection Agency revealed that 26 beaches and freshwater sites around Ireland failed to meet the strict EU guide grade for bathing water quality last year.