There was a mix of delight and disappointment today as the International Blue Flag was awarded to 75 Irish beaches and four marinas for environmental quality and safety.
Counties Mayo and Kerry reached particularly high standards, receiving 13 awards each for their environmentally sound beaches.
Other award-toppers included beaches in Donegal(12), Clare(8) and Galway (6). While accolades were given to Kilrush Marina in Clare, Kilmore Quay in Wexford and Fenit Marina in Kerry, among others.
But there was bad news for Co Dublin, which fared worst this year, losing one of its two coveted flags.
The Seapoint flag was lost due to the failure of the beach to reach consistently high water quality standards. Traces of the bacteria faecal streptococci were found in local water readings.
Killiney beach also failed to reach Blue Flag standards this year. The beach won the award in 2000, but failed to regain it last year as a result of its water quality.
Portrane beach, however, was awarded a certificate today and will fly the flag alone during the 2002 bathing season.
Director of environmental agency An Taisce’s Education Unit, Ms Patricia Oliver, blamed a lack of water treatment facilities for Dublin’s poor performance.
"We are really impatiently awaiting the day when the Ringsend plant comes into operation and Dublin Bay can fly the Blue Flag from all its wonderful beaches," she said.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State at the Department of the Environment and Local Government, Mr Dan Wallace, called for "vigilance" from the public and local authorities to prevent pollution and maintain the standard of the country’s bathing waters.
Mr Wallace also said the Dublin Bay water treatment project would be operational by Autumn 2002, and he predicted that Ireland’s "high level of performance" this year would be surpassed in future years because of "ongoing progress in the construction of major wastewater treatment projects in urban centres around our coastline".
The International Blue Flag environmental and safety campaign, which awards local authorities for water quality, beach management, litter control, beach safety and environmental information, is in its 15th year and 2816 flags were awarded throughout Europe and South Africa.