Three popular beaches have lost the coveted Blue Flag environmental award this year.
Seventy-five beaches and four marinas can fly the flag but Killiney, Co Dublin, Bray, Co Wicklow, and Tramore, Co Waterford, were among five beaches which lost their status.
Overall, Blue Flags awarded represent an increase on last year when 70 beaches and five marinas flew the flag.
Applications this year totalled 83 for beaches and seven for marinas. The announcements were made by An Taisce, which coordinates the awards here. The awards are organised throughout Europe by the Foundation for Environmental Education.
To obtain the flag, beaches must meet criteria relating to water quality, facilities for visitors, beach management including litter control, beach safety, environmental information and display facilities.
An Taisce said the theme of the 2001 Irish Blue Flag Campaign was beach security. There would be a focus on issues such as control of motorised craft, particularly the use of jet skis in bathing areas, minimising vandalism, signage, control of driving on beaches, zoning of different activities, proper provision of lifeguards and life-saving equipment and enforcement of by-laws.
Five beaches lost their Blue Flag status. No application was received for the beach at Killiney, Co Dublin, as it would not have met water quality requirements and may have been affected by construction work. Co Wicklow lost one flag at Bray beach due to non-compliance with water quality criteria, poor environmental information and a lack of environmental activities.
Tramore, Co Waterford, did not meet water quality requirements for faecal streptococci and so lost its flag.
The bathing area at Lough Ennel, Co Westmeath, also lost its flag due to non-compliance with water quality criteria. An Taisce said the beach would still be considered suitable for bathing and just missed meeting the very strict Blue Flag standards but was expected to regain its status next year.
Keem beach in Achill, Co Mayo, lost its flag due to noncompliance with bathing water criteria. An application from Clare Island was rejected due to non-compliance with water quality caused by the transportation of sheep.
A new management plan had been initiated, An Taisce said, which it hoped would ensure the beach was awarded the flag in 2002.
Kinsale yacht club failed to get the award due to poor environmental information and some sewage waste in the waters. In Co Donegal, the beach at Downings failed to gain the flag once more.
Other beaches were awarded the Blue Flag for the first time or regained it. Two beaches in Co Mayo, at Old Head and Bertra, gained the flag and in Co Waterford a new flag was awarded at Bonmahon.
Four beaches in Co Wexford, at Courtown, Curracloe, Rosslare, Duncannon, were awarded flags again after losing them last year.
Stroove beach in Co Donegal was awarded the Blue Flag for the first time after becoming a designated bathing area.
The flag at An Tra Mor, Inverin, Co Galway, was regained this year after noncompliance with bathing water quality in 2000.
Barleycove in Co Cork was given the award, following what An Taisce described as fantastic improvement in beach management. This was due to EU funding for a Sustainable Tourism project at the beach and led to exceptional access and an innovative visitor management strategy.
Overall, Kerry received the most Blue Flags this year, with 13 beaches reaching the high standards required.
Four marinas at Kilmore Quay, Co Wexford, Fenit in Co Kerry, Kilrush and Mountshannon in Co Clare were awarded the Blue Flag again. Two other marinas have become involved in the Blue Flag programme and may be eligible for flags next year.
The following are the beaches which won the Blue Flag.
Co Clare: Kilkee, White Strand (near Miltown Malbay), Spanish Point, Ballycuggeran, White Strand (Doonbeg), Cappa Pier, Mountshannon, Fanore, Lahinch. Co Cork: The Warren, Owenahincha, Tragumna, Inchadoney, Gallylucas, Claycastle, Front Strand, Garryvoe, Barleycove.
Co Donegal: Bundoran, Culdaff, Lisfannon, Stroove, Portsalon, Killahoey, Marble Hill, Carrickfinn, Narin, Fintra, Murvagh, Rossnowlagh. Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown: Seapoint. Fingal: Portrane. Co Galway: An Tra Mor, Cill Mhuirbthigh, Tra na mBan, Traught, Loughrea Lake, Tra an Doilin. Co Kerry: Ballybunion North, Ballybunion South, Ballinskelligs, Ballyheigue, Banna, Derrynane, Fenit, Inch, Kells, Maherabeg, Rossbeigh, Ventry, White Strand.
Co Mayo: Bertra, Old Head, Carrowmore, Mulranny, Mullaghroe, Elly Bay, Ross and four on Achill - Dooega, Kell, Dugort, Golden Strand. Co Sligo: Rosses Point, Enniscrone. Co Waterford: Bonmahon, Clonea, Counsellors Strand. Co Westmeath: The Cut, Lough Lene. Co Wexford: Curracloe, Rosslare, Courtown, Duncannon. Co Wicklow: Brittas Bay north, Brittas Bay south, Greystones.