Three Irish beaches have lost their Blue Flag status for environmental excellence, it emerged today.
Enjoying the sunshine on Dollymount Strand
Doonbeg in Co Clare, one of the country's most popular strands, lost its flag over safety issues related to coastal erosion of the cliff and concern over access to the beach. Clare County Council said it intended appealing the Doonbeg decision.
Dublin's Dollymount Strand lost its flag last summer and did not reapply this year. Malahide, Co Dublin, lost its 2006 flag some months ago and did not reapply either.
Other losers this year were Enniscrone, Co Sligo, which failed to meet the EU guideline standard for water quality that is an essential prerequisite to the Blue Flag award.
Culdaff, Co Donegal, lost its flag mainly due to environmental management and facility issues. Camping in the dunes was seen as a major problem at this beach, causing litter and dune erosion.
An Taisce unveiled a list of 80 beaches and three marinas that received the award this morning, and the flags were presented by Minister for the Environment Dick Roche on Greystones South Beach, Co Wicklow.
The marinas awarded Blue Flags this year are Killinure Point Marina, Glasson, Co Westmeath; Athlone Marina, Co Westmeath; and Kilmore Quay Marina, Co Wexford. Kilmore Quay is the only coastal Blue Flag marina in the country.
Blue Flag status is an eco-label awarded to more than 3,000 beaches and marinas in 28 countries each year to symbolise high standards in water quality, safety and the standard of services.
"We are very disappointed with the loss of the blue flag for Doonbeg," senior engineer with Clare County Council's Environment and Emergency Services Directorate Sean Ward said.
"Major improvements works have been under way at this beach to improve access, and we hope to have them completed by the end of this month. We have appealed this decision to the International Jury and look forward to a favourable outcome."
An Taisce, which organises the awards ceremony, said strict rules on recycling almost lost Ireland 20 of its flags this year.
Local authorities in Kerry, Mayo, Donegal, Cork and Clare reacted swiftly by installing new recycling facilities when it became likely that they were going to lose the coveted status.
Mr Roche said Ireland remained consistently near the top of the EU rankings in terms of bathing water quality. He expressed regret at Dollymount's failure to safeguard the coveted status.
"It is a source of great pride having a Blue Flag in the middle of our capital city," he said. "Bathing water at Dollymount meets comfortably all the standards specified for safe bathing water, but regrettably a small number of samples in 2006 did not meet the very high standards set for Blue Flags."
