Irish beaches granted record 77 Blue Flag `quality' awards

Ireland has secured European Blue Flag "quality" awards for a record 77 beaches and four marinas, with the coastal counties of Kerry and Mayo sweeping up the highest number. Achill was the best "island" entrant with five flags, while two inland lakes in Westmeath were also successful.

Both Kerry and Mayo won 13 flags each, while Donegal took 12. Clare also made up for last year's losses with eight this time round, including White Strand, Doonbeg, which is the subject of a planning appeal hearing this week over plans for a golf course.

Galway, with five flags, failed this year's criteria for its beaches at Silver Strand and An Tra Mor Caol Rua. An application was not lodged for the beach at Salthill, which was the focus of a pollution scare last year and which is still subject to contamination.

The Galway pair were among eight entrants rejected due to non-compliance with bathing water criteria. These were Bettystown (Co Meath); Skerries (Fingal); Bray South (Bray); Main Strand, Dunmore East (Waterford); Tramore Strand (Waterford); Ardmore (Waterford); An Tra Mor, Inverin (Galway); and Port Arthur (Donegal) - the last being a new application. However, two other new applicants in Donegal were among the 77 winners.

Two beaches were also rejected because of poor quality beach management. These were Clogher head and Shelling Hill in Co Louth. Cork's Barley Cove failed due to inadequate access facilities and the need for improved dune management.

Four marinas were given flags - Kilrush Creek in Co Clare, where the Minister for the Environment, Mr Dempsey, released the current list compiled by An Taisce; also, Kilmore Quay marina in Co Wexford; Kinsale Yacht Club in Co Cork; and Mountshannon Marina in Co Clare. Fenit marina in Co Kerry, which applied this year, will be monitored during the coming season.

This year's blue flag beaches, by local authority area, are as follows:

Dublin: Portrane (Fingal); Seapoint and Killiney (Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown);

Wicklow: Greystones South; Brittas Bay (North); Brittas Bay (South);

Wexford: Courtown North; Curracloe; Rosslare; Duncannon;

Waterford: Counsellor's Strand, Dunmore East; Bonmahon; Clonea East;

Cork: Claycastle and Front Strand, Youghal; Garryvoe, Shan agarry; White Strand, Garrylucas; Old Head of Kinsale; Inchydoney, Clonakilty; Owenahincha and the Warren, Rosscarbery; Tragumna, Skibbereen;

Kerry: Derrynane, Caherdaniel; Ballinskelligs; White Strand and Kells, Cahirciveen; Rossbeigh; Inch; Ventry; Maharabeg, Castle gregory; Fenit; Banna, Ardfert; Ballyheigue; Ballybunion North and South;

Clare: Cappagh Pier, Kilrush; Kilkee; White Strand, Doonbeg; White Strand, Milltown Malbay; Lahinch; Fanore, Ballyvaughan; Ballycuggeran, Killaloe; Mountshannon;

Galway: Traught, Kinvara; Tra na mBan, An Spideal; Tra an Doilin, An Cheathru Rua; Cill Mhuirbthigh, Cill Ronan; Arainn; the bathing place at Loughrea lake;

Mayo: Carrowmore and Old Head, Louisburgh; Bertraw, Westport; the Harbour, Clare Island; Mulranny; Dooega and Doogort, Keem; Keel and Golden Strand, Achill island; Elly Bay and Mullaghroe, Belmullet; Ross, Killala;

Sligo: Enniscrone; Rosses Point; Mullaghmore;

Donegal: Bundoran; Ross nowlagh; Murvagh, Laghy; Fintra, Killybegs; Nairn, Portnoo; Carrickfinn, Annagry; Marble Hill and Kilahoey, Dunfanaghy; Downings, Rosapenna; Portsalon, Fanad; Lisfannon, Fahan; Cul daff;

Westmeath: Lilliput on Lough Ennell; the Cut on Lough Lene in Collinstown.