FOURTEEN Clare locations have been awarded Blue Flags and Green Coast awards for the upcoming 2024 bathing season.
All thirteen recipients last year have retained their awards for 2024 while Quilty has been recognised as a Green Coast winner for the first time.
Blue Flags have been retained in Kilkee, White Strand (Doonbeg), Spanish Point, White Strand (Miltown Malbay), Lahinch, Fanore, Ballycuggeran and Mountshannon.
Green Coast awards have been issued for Carrigaholt, Seafield, Quilty, Ballyalla Lake and Bishop’s Quarter.
It is the second year in succession that Cappa has missed out on winning a Green Coast award, this is despite Clare County Council expressing confidence last year that it would regain its status in 2024.
Nationally, 94 Blue Flags and 70 Green Coast Awards awarded were awarded this year. The 85 Irish beaches and 9 marinas that have achieved this accolade must adhere to specific criteria related to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and site management for the duration of the bathing season.
The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised environmental awards. Originating in France in 1985 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. 2024 is the 37th year that beaches and marinas have been awarded here in Ireland.
An Taisce announced the International Blue Flag and Green Coast Award recipients for 2024 at a ceremony held in the Galway Bay Hotel overlooking Salthill Blue Flag beach on Monday afternoon.
Government Chief Whip, and Minister of State at the Department of Education, Hildegarde Naughton TD (FG) stated, “As a Galway Minister, I am particularly proud to see the return of the Blue Flag to one of my own local swimming spots, Traught Beach in Kinvara, I know that this will be of particular note and celebration for many Galway swimmers”.
She added, “As we get warmed up for the bathing and swimming season this year we are breaking the record with some 70 Beaches receiving the Green Coast Award. We all know just how lucky we are to have such beautiful water quality and natural beauty across our shores and this year’s recipients are testament to just how exceptional and rich in diversity that our beaches are”.
