A Record 88 Blue Flags and 61 Green Coast Awards awarded for the 2017 Season
On Monday, 22nd May, An Taisce announced the International Blue Flag and Green Coast Award recipients for 2017. The awards were presented by Senator Jerry Buttimer at an awards ceremony held at the Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven, Co. Cork.
Speaking at the awards Senator Buttimer said:
“On this, the 30th anniversary of Blue Flag awards in Ireland, I am happy to announce that a total of 149 Blue Flag and Green Coast awards will be made today, which is an increase of 8 awards from last year and represents a record high.”
“The Blue Flag has become a truly global symbol with an ever-increasing number of countries participating in the programme. The programme promotes sustainable development in freshwater and marine areas and challenges local authorities and beach operators to achieve high standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety. Over the years, the programme has become a highly respected and recognised eco-label working to bring together the tourism and environmental sectors. There are also very tangible economic benefits to be derived from our marvellous coastal environment and quality facilities, both at local, regional and national levels. I am very honoured to be associated with the prestigious Blue Flag programme on its 30th anniversary and to present the awards to this year’s very worthy recipients.”
Dr. Michael John O’Mahony, Director at An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit speaking at the awards said:
“I would like to thanks and acknowledge the work of the Local Authorities and marina operators here today for all their efforts in ensuring that the sites being awarded for the 2017 bathing season have achieved the excellent standards required by the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards. I would also like to commend the many thousands of Clean Coasts volunteers who participate in community clean-ups and coastal enhancement projects in their local areas throughout the year. It is the work of the Local Authorities and Clean Coasts Volunteers that ensures that Ireland’s fantastic beaches remain clean and safe for everyone to enjoy”.
Blue Flag
The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised eco-labels. The Blue Flag originated in France in 1985 when French coastal Local Authorities were awarded with the Blue Flag for compliance with sewage treatment and bathing water quality criteria. It was launched as an International programme as part of the “European Year of the Environment in 1987. In 1988, the first year sites were awarded outside of France 19 beaches and 2 marinas received the Blue Flag in Ireland. This year is the 30th year of the Blue Flag as an international programme, more than 4250 beaches, marinas will be awarded in 47 countries globally.
The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas and inland bathing waters around the world. The 81 Irish beaches and 7 marinas that have achieved this accolade adhere to specific criteria related to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and site management.
The number of sites receiving the award is up 3 on 2016, whilst 3 of the beaches awarded in 2016 did not retain Blue Flag status, the Blue Flag will be raised for the first time at both Portumna in County Galway and at Greencastle Marina in County Donegal. Bray South Promenade regains Blue Flag status, having not flown the Flag since 2000. Redbarn and Garretstown in Cork and Ross in County Mayo regained Blue Flag status lost in 2016.
An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland is responsible for the operation of the Blue Flag programme in Ireland on behalf of the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE).
Sites not retaining Blue Flag status for the 2017 season
The Blue Flag requires applicants to achieve an annual classification of ‘Excellent’, the highest rating achievable under current bathing water legislation. The following beaches did not retain Blue Flag status for the 2017 as a result of the annual bathing water classification being downgraded from Excellent to Good status based on samples taken over the previous 4 bathing seasons:
- Lisfannon in Donegal,
- Killiney in Dun Laoghaire Rathdown
- Balcarrick, Donabate in Fingal.
61 Beaches receive the Green Coast Award for the 2016 Bathing Season
The Green Coast Awards were presented back in 2003 to four beaches in County Wexford, it was rolled out nationally in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. The award recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty. An important aspect of the Green Coast Awards is the involvement of Clean Coasts groups of which there are now over 500 comprised of thousands of volunteers throughout the island. These volunteers participate in community clean-ups and coastal enhancement projects at their local beaches throughout the year.
61 beaches in Ireland were awarded the Green Coast Award representing an increase in 5 awards since 2016. Ballyallia Lake in Clare has been awarded a Green Coast Award for the first time. Castlegregory; Littor; Waterville and Ballinskelligs in Kerry received Green Coast Awards for the first time. Fountainstown and Rocky Bay in Cork have regained the award for 2017 and Cullenstown Strand in Wexford has been awarded for the first time since 2011
Having not met the excellent water quality standard required Mullaghmore in Sligo failed to retain the award for 2017. Applications were not received from Balcarrick, Donabate in Fingal, Boatstrand in Waterford and Ballymoney in Wexford.
1. Blue Flags Awarded by Management Body 2017: 88 (+3)
Management Body | Site Name | Award Status 2017 | Comment |
Clare County Council | Ballycuggeran (Killaloe) | Awarded | A small Lakeside bathing area, Ballycuggeran has retained it’s Blue Flag status for the coming season |
Clare County Council | Cappa pier | Awarded | All 9 Blue Flags awarded to Clare beaches in 2016 have been retained for the coming season. |
Clare County Council | Fanore | Awarded | Retained |
Clare County Council | Kilkee | Awarded | Retained |
Clare County Council | Lahinch | Awarded | Retained |
Clare County Council | Mountshannon | Awarded | Retained |
Clare County Council | Spanish Point | Awarded | Retained |
Clare County Council | White Strand Doonbeg | Awarded | Retained |
Clare County Council | White Strand Miltown Malbay | Awarded | Retained |
Cork County Council | Redbarn Beach | Awarded | Has regained Blue Flag status lost in 2016 due in part to improved water quality. |
Cork County Council | Barleycove | Awarded | Retained |
Cork County Council | Garrylucas | Awarded | Retained |
Cork County Council | Inchydoney | Awarded | Retained |
Cork County Council | Owenahincha | Awarded | Retained |
Cork County Council | Tragumna | Awarded | Retained |
Cork County Council | Garretstown | Awarded | Has regained Blue Flag status lost in 2016 due in part to improved water quality. |
Cork: Kinsale Yacht Club | Kinsale Yacht Club | Awarded | The first of the current Blue Flag marinas to be achieve Blue Flag status has once again retained Blue Flag status |
Cork: Royal Cork Yacht club | The Royal Cork Yacht Club Marina | Awarded | Retained |
Donegal | Lisfannon | Not Awarded | Lisfannon was not awarded due to drop in Annual Bathing Water Classification from Excellent to Good. Excellent status is the standard required to award the Blue Flag. The loss of Lisfannon and the first time awarding of Greencastle leaves Donegal 2nd only to Kerry in the number of Blue Flags awarded for 2017 with 13. This is the same number as last year. |
Donegal County Council | Downings | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Rossnowlagh | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Greencastle Marina | Awarded | Awarded for the first time |
Donegal County Council | Bundoran | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Carrickfinn | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Culdaff | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Fintra | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Killahoey | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Magherawarden (Portsalon) | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Marblehill | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Murvagh | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Portnoo /Naran | Awarded | |
Donegal County Council | Shroove | Awarded | |
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council | Killiney | Not Awarded | There was no Blue Flag application for Killiney for the 2017 season. It would not have been awarded due to drop in Annual Bathing Water Classification from Excellent to Good. |
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council | Seapoint | Awarded | |
Fingal County Council | Donabate Balcarrick Beach | Not Awarded | Donabate was not awarded due to drop in Annual Bathing Water Classification from Excellent to Good. Excellent classification is the standard required by Blue Flag. |
Fingal County Council | Portmarnock/Velvet Strand | Awarded | |
Galway County Council | An Trá Mhór (Inverin) | Awarded | Galway County Council retains the 5 Blue Flags awarded in 2016 and Portumna is awarded a Blue Flag for the first time. |
Galway County Council | Cill Mhuirbhigh (Aran) | Awarded | Inis Mór retains it’s Blue Flag |
Galway County Council | Loughrea Lake | Awarded | This inland bathing area on the shores of Lough Rea lake retains its Blue Flag for another season. |
Galway City Council | Salthill | Awarded | Galway City retains both Blue Flags awarded last year. |
Galway City Council | Silverstrand | Awarded | Both Silverstrand and Salthill are dual award beaches, having also received a Green Coast Award for the 2017 season |
Galway County Council | Trá an Dóilin (An Cheathrú Rua) | Awarded | |
Galway County Council | Traught | Awarded | |
Galway County Council | Portumna | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Inch | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Ballybunion North | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Ballybunion South | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Ballyheigue | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Banna | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Fenit | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Kells | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Magherabeg | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Rossbeigh | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Ventry | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | White Strand Caherciveen | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Fenit Marina | Awarded | Fenit Marina retains Blue Flag status for the coming season. |
Kerry County Council | Ballinskelligs | Awarded | |
Kerry County Council | Derrynane | Awarded | Kerry Awarded the most Blue Flags with 14 |
Louth County Council | Port/Lurganboy | Awarded | Louth retains all 3 flags awarded in 2016 |
Louth County Council | Shellinghill/Templetown | Awarded | |
Louth County Council | Clogherhead | Awarded | A beach wheelchair is available to book at Clogherhead. |
Mayo County Council | Bertra | Awarded | Mayo awarded 12 Blue Flags for the 2017 season |
Mayo County Council | Carrowmore | Awarded | |
Mayo County Council | Clare Island | Awarded | |
Mayo County Council | Dooega | Awarded | |
Mayo County Council | Elly Bay | Awarded | |
Mayo County Council | Golden Strand | Awarded | |
Mayo County Council | Keel | Awarded | |
Mayo County Council | Keem | Awarded | |
Mayo County Council | Mullaghroe | Awarded | |
Mayo County Council | Mulranny | Awarded | |
Mayo County Council | Silverstrand Dugort | Awarded | |
Mayo County Council | Ross Killala | Awarded | |
Quigley’s Marina (Westmeath) | Killinure Point | Awarded | Blue Flag Marina on the river shannon retains it’s Blue Flag status for the coming season. |
Sligo County Council | Rosses Point | Awarded | Retains both Blue Flag and Green Coast Award status received in 2016 |
Waterford City and County Council | Clonea | Awarded | Waterford retains all four flags awarded in 2016 at: Clonea; Councillors Strand; Dunmore Strand and Tramore |
Waterford City and County Council | Councillors Strand Dunmore East | Awarded | |
Waterford City and County Council | Dunmore Strand | Awarded | |
Waterford City and County Council | Tramore | Awarded | |
Wexford County Council | Ballinesker Beach | Awarded | Wexford retains Blue Flags at all 6 Blue Flag beaches awarded last year |
Wexford County Council | Courtown | Awarded | |
Wexford County Council | Curracloe | Awarded | |
Wexford County Council | Morriscastle | Awarded | |
Wexford County Council | Rosslare | Awarded | |
Wexford County Council | Ballymoney North Beach | Awarded | |
Wexford County Council | Kilmore Quay Marina | Awarded | Wexford retains Blue Flags at both Blue Flag Marinas awarded in 2016 |
Wexford County Council | New Ross Marina | Awarded | |
Wicklow County Council | Brittas Bay North Beach | Awarded | Wicklow retains the 3 Blue Flags awarded last year and a Blue Flag will fly over Bray South Promenade for the first time in 17 years. |
Wicklow County Council | Brittas Bay South Beach | Awarded | |
Wicklow County Council | Greystones | Awarded | |
Wicklow County Council | Bray South Promenade | Awarded | Bray has not held a Blue Flag since 2000. |
2. Green Coast Awards by County 2017: 61 Beaches (+5)
County/City | Beach Name | Details | |
1 | Clare | Bishops Quarter | Clare retains the 2 Green Coast Awards, awarded in 2015, at Bishops Quarter and Seafield. |
2 | Clare | Seafield | |
3 | Clare | Ballyallia Lake | The first inland bathing area to be awarded a Green Coast Award |
4 | Cork | Ardnahinch | Cork is being awarded 12 Green Coast Awards. Cork has retained the award at 10 sites from 2016, and added Foutainstown and Rocky Bay for the coming season |
5 | Cork | Ballyrisode | |
6 | Cork | Dooneen Pier | |
7 | Cork | Rocky Bay | Rocky Bay and Fountainstown have regained GCAs lost in 2016 and 2013 respectively due to improved water quality. |
8 | Cork | Fountainstown | |
9 | Cork | Galley Cove | |
10 | Cork | Garnish | |
11 | Cork | Inch | |
12 | Cork | Oysterhaven | |
13 | Cork | Ring | |
14 | Cork | Red Strand | |
15 | Cork | Inchydoney East | |
16 | Donegal | Ballyhernan | |
17 | Donegal | Dooey Beach | |
18 | Donegal | Drumnatinney | |
19 | Donegal | Magheroarty | The Velvet Strand also received a Blue Flag. |
20 | Donegal | Port Arthur | |
21 | Fingal | Portmarnock | Fingal will be awarded 2 Green Coast Awards. Balcarrick in Donabate lost its GCA due to a decline in the Annual water quality classification. |
22 | Fingal | The Burrow | |
23 | Galway County | Aillebrack | Galway County has retained all 6 Green Coast Awards from 2016 |
24 | Galway County | Dumhach | |
25 | Galway County | East End Inisbofin | |
26 | Galway County | Renvyle | |
27 | Galway County | Trá Inis Oirr | |
28 | Galway County | Trá gCaorach Inis Oirr | |
29 | Galway City | Salthill | Galway City has retained 2 Green Coast Awards. These 2 beaches are dual award achieving Blue Flag status also. |
30 | Galway City | Silver Strand | |
31 | Kerry | Béal Bán | Kerry has retained the Green Coast Award for Béal Bán. 4 beaches have received a GCA in Kerry for the first time: Castlegregory; Littor; Waterville and Ballinskelligs, which is a dual award site. |
32 | Kerry | Castlegregory | |
33 | Kerry | Littor | |
34 | Kerry | Waterville | |
35 | Kerry | Ballinskelligs | |
36 | Mayo | Carrowniskey | Mayo has 6 Green Coast Awards all retained since 2016 |
37 | Mayo | Cross, Belmullet | |
38 | Mayo | Portacloy | |
39 | Mayo | Silver Strand | |
40 | Mayo | Srah | |
41 | Mayo | Termon | |
42 | Meath | Mornington | Regains GCA last held in 2012 |
43 | Sligo | Dunmoran | Sligo awarded 3 GCAs |
44 | Sligo | Streedagh | |
45 | Sligo | Rosses Point | Rosses Point has once again achieved dual award status. |
46 | Waterford | Guillamene | Waterford is being awarded 7 Green Coast Awards having retained the Flag at 7 sites. Boatstrand did not achieve the required water quality standard and so misses out this year |
47 | Waterford | Annestown | |
48 | Waterford | Ballyquin | |
49 | Waterford | Curragh | |
50 | Waterford | Goat Island | |
51 | Waterford | Kilfrassey | |
52 | Waterford | Newtown Cove | |
53 | Wexford | Old Bawn | Wexford will be awarded 8 Green Coast Awards in 2016 having retained the flag at 7 sites and regained one at Cullenstown Strand, which has not held a Green Coast Award since 2011. |
54 | Wexford | Cahore | |
55 | Wexford | Culleton’s Gap | |
56 | Wexford | Ballyhealy | |
57 | Wexford | Cullenstown Strand | |
58 | Wexford | Booley Bay | |
59 | Wexford | Grange | |
60 | Wexford | St Helens Bay | |
61 | Wicklow | Arklow South Beach | Wicklow has retained the Green Coast Award for Arklow South Beach |
61 Awarded sites, the most ever topping the 58 awarded in 2015
Mullaghmore in Sligo and Balcarrick, Donabate in Fingal did not meet the excellent water quality standards required to retain Green Coast Award status for 2017. There was no Green Coast Award application from Ballymoney in Wexford, Ballymoney was awarded a Blue Flag for the 2017 season. |
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