The environmental organisation An Taisce has bestowed blue flag status upon 94 Irish seaside locations and marinas for the 2024 swimming season. Despite 82 of the 85 locations sustaining their blue flag awards from the previous year, South beach in Fingal, Dublin, North beach in Ballymoney, Wexford, and Tramore in Waterford were unable to retain their statuses.
The blue flag criterion mandates that a beach must have demonstrated “excellent” water quality in the most recent yearly classification to qualify for the award for the forthcoming season. South beach and Tramore were disqualified due to degraded water quality, stemming from the existence of intestinal enterococci bacteria, whilst North beach lost its standing due to an E.coli outbreak.
These bacteria infiltrations may have been a result of wastewater overflow, mistaken plumbing connections leading to sewage corruption of surface water drains, agricultural runoff, faulty septic tanks, or dog mess. Despite these shortcomings, the current water quality at all three locations has been deemed “good”, the second-best ranking, following a review of water sample test results from 2020 to 2023.
An exceptional 70 beaches were granted the Green Coast award for 2024, acknowledging their cleanliness, superb water quality, and innate allure. These spots are regarded as outstanding destinations to appreciate the wealth and variety of Ireland’s coastal legacy.
Three beaches—those in Bettystown, Co Meath; Enniscrone, Co Sligo; and Traught in Kinvara, Co Galway—achieved blue flag honours this year, having failed to secure them in 2023. Ten marinas held blue flags in 2023, and all but one held onto them this year. The marina in Greencastle was excluded by the Donegal County Council in July 2023, caused by building operations at the harbour that forced the seasonal marina there to shut down.
Ten coastal regions have received both the blue flag and green coast distinctions: Fountainstown and Inchydoney East in Cork County; Balcarrick, Donabate in Fingal; Salthill and Silverstrand in Galway city; Trá Inis Oírr (primary beach) in Galway County; Baile an Sceilg, situated in Kerry County; Bettystown in Meath County; along with Enniscrone and Rosses Point in Sligo.
The blue flag initiative, one of the globally recognised environmental labels, aims to elevate environmental consciousness and endorse robust environmental administration of beaches, marinas and eco-tourism boats worldwide.
The green coast awards appreciate the efforts of coastal groups, comprising thousands of volunteers participating in community clean-ups.
An Taisce operates the green coast award with backing from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and Fáilte Ireland.
In 2024, Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton presented the awards at a function in Galway, with a view of Salthill blue flag beach.
“As we prepare for this year’s bathing and swimming season, we set a record with about 70 beaches being honoured with the green coast award. We’re privileged to have such pristine water quality and natural beauty lining our coasts, and this year’s awardees demonstrate the exceptional and diverse beauty of our beaches,” she commented.
Cathy Baxter, the head of An Taisce’s environmental education division, praised the local authorities, marina managers and clean-coast groups for their relentless efforts to ensure these sites comply with the high standards set by the blue flag and green coast award.
The green coast scheme endeavours to amplify environmental awareness and endorse effective environmental management of beaches, marinas and eco-tourism boats globally.
To maintain these honours, beaches and marinas must meet specific standards concerning water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety measures and site management throughout the bathing season.