Two Northern Ireland beaches and three in Ireland have been named and shamed by EU chiefs for failing to come up to scratch over bathing water.
EU officials confirmed today 97.5 per cent of beaches in Ireland making the grade.
However they identified Ballyholme in Co Down, Castlerock in Co Derry, Balbriggan and Skerries in Dublin and Dunmore East Main Strand in Co Waterford as falling short of what was expected.
The latest figures meant Ireland was seventh on the list of EU nations for clean bathing water.
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Greece led the way in Europe, with a 99.9 per cent rating for its 1,965 listed beaches.
Ireland's compliance rate was also above the EU average of 96.7 per cent.