LAHINCH has lost its status as a Blue Flag beach due to a reported drop in water quality.
It is the only Clare location to be stripped of the Blue Flag which is one of the world’s most respected environmental accolades, awarded to thousands of beaches, marinas, and sustainable boating operators globally. In Ireland, it is administered by An Taisce on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).
Blue Flag status has been retained by eight beaches in the county, White Strand (Miltown Malbay), Ballycuggeran, White Strand (Doonbeg), Mountshannon (Lough Derg), Fanore, Spanish Point, Kilkee and Cappagh. The status had been lost by Cappagh in 2023 but has been retained for successive years. The privately operated Kilrush Marina has retained its Blue Flag for the 2026 season. The award reflects exceptional standards in water quality, environmental education, beach management, safety, and visitor amenities.
Green Coast Awards which highlight sites with excellent water quality and rich natural environments have been retained by Ballyalla Lake, Bishop’s Quarter, Carrigaholt, Quilty and Seafield.
Owner of The Coffee Hatch on the promenade in Lahinch, Carmel Connaire told The Clare Echo the stripping of the Blue Flag did not shock locals. “I wasn’t surprised because we’ve had restrictions on bathing in the last couple of years, the Blue Flag is based over a four year period. Our standard is still good so we can still bathe in the water, it may deter people but in general speaking the quality is good and if there any issues Clare County Council will issue a bathing notice and this will be implemented by the lifeguards”.
Since An Taisce announced the 95 Blue Flag and 73 Green Coast Award winners on Friday, Lahinch’s absence has been a talking point at The Coffee Hatch, Carmel confirmed. “I get a lot of people that use the water and they know the water and are regulars, it won’t deter them from swimming here. The surfers might take more notice but they are very tuned in anyway. People coming to The Hatch are disappointed but not surprised”. She said, “we still have good bathing water, I think the emphasis on Lahinch losing the Blue Flag is more detrimental than actually losing it but Clare County Council have a huge responsibility in addressing this”.
Carmel doesn’t expect it will lead to a drop in visitors to Lahinch. “It is a decision that somebody with small children might decide to go to a Blue Flag beach instead of Lahinch but I don’t think it will have the impact that people think, it is disappointing and it needs to be addressed. There has been no increase in capacity for sewage capacity in Lahinch but we’ve had a huge increase in the amount of people living here all-year round”.
There is “real disappointment” in Lahinch at losing “an internationally recognised symbol which communities are rightly proud of when they attain and retain it,” remarked Cllr Shane Talty (FF). “To be honest it is not overly surprising because we’ve seen an increasing number of beach closures and it is becoming more regular and these are based on the fact that the bathing water is not safe”.
Lahinch’s lowpoint in losing the Flag could finally inspire some State bodies into action, Cllr Talty stated. “I think I know the primary cause of pollution in Liscannor Bay is the deficiency in water treatment plants in Lahinch and Ennistymon. It is no harm that it brings it to national attention that the control and management of these plants lies within the State through Uisce Éireann. This is a low-point where we may see more action, more investment, shovels on the ground and plans to get to a proper shared treatment plant between Lahinch and Ennistymon and get that moving. We don’t have a planning application so we’re years away from getting a commissioned plant in place but I hope the lowpoint of losing the Blue Flag might be used by those in positions to get things moving”.
Uisce Éireann must step up, Cllr Talty insisted. “For the seven years I’ve been in Clare County Council we get regular updates from Uisce Éireann stating that from concept to delivery it takes seven years to upgrade a wastewater treatment plant, they have been telling us they are working on upgrades for seven years but we don’t see planning application, until they have cleaned up their act and can stand over the infrastructure I’m not interested in getting discussions on land run off”.
Cathaoirleach of the West Clare Municipal District, Cllr Bill Slattery (FG) admitted he was “very disappointed” and that he didn’t realise the criteria applied by An Taisce and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for awarding the Blue Flag was for standards to be excellent. “The water is good and very good in Lahinch but it is not excellent, it has to be excellent to obtain the Blue Flag. It is safe for swimming and I’ve allayed fears that the beach and the water is safe in Lahinch”.
Failing to invest in infrastructure has led to Lahinch losing the Blue Flag, Cllr Slattery maintained. “For years we’ve been hearing Uisce Éireann, An Taisce and the EPA blaming farmers for the run-off from their lands but when you see Uisce Éireann fined €20,000 for discharging sewage from Ennistymon and Lahinch into the Inagh River then it is no wonder that our water is polluted. The run off from the land might be a small component but the blame is with Uisce Éireann for not providing a wastewater treatment plant in Ennistymon and Lahinch which is required”.
Cllr Slattery didn’t hold back from criticising his own Fine Gael party. “A lack of investment from successive governments including my own party Fine Gael on capital projects which should be vital for tourism to grow, it is vital the facilities are provided. The amount of tourists coming into the area is massive but the treatment plant was last updated in 1972 and our population in Lahinch goes to 20,000 in the summer time, everything has changed in that Lahinch is busy all-year round”. He said estimates that a treatment plant won’t be built until 2030 or 2032 at the earliest is “ridiculous for a place on the Wild Atlantic Way, we can’t wait that long, it is time our politicians woke up and looked after capital projects”.
Donogh O’Loghlin who operates a clothing store in Dough on the Main St in Lahinch told The Clare Echo “it is a sad in a way” of the lost status. “It is very disappointing but it is true. Clare County Council and Uisce Éireann need to step up and clean up the beach and the water flowing into the sea. Water from Ennistymon and Lahinch is flowing from the river into the sea and it is going to get polluted, not everybody is worried about it but some people are having effects from the water quality”. He added, “We all like to do business in Lahinch, it is great for surfing but it is sad for families going swimming and surfing that the water is not always safe”.
