"The international blue flag programme are awarded when bathing areas achieve "excellent" water quality in the annual classification competition. This year 12 beaches have been presented with both a Blue Flag and a Green Coast Award, achieving dual award status. These include Balcarrick, Donabate in Fingal; Salthill and Silver Strand in Galway City, An Trá,Inis Oirr in Galway County; Inchydoney Beach East in Cork; Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs) in Kerry; Bettystown in Meath; Enniscrone and Rosses Point in Sligo and Bunmahon,Tramore, and Clonea in Waterford."
"To achieve a Blue Flag certain criteria in the areas of water quality, waste management, biodiversity protection, education, information, safety, and accessibility must be met. The awards were presented by An Taisce at a ceremony hosted by Cork County Council in Mall House, Youghal, County Cork on Friday afternoon. Among the big winners was Duncannon Beach in County Wexford who have been awarded a Blue Flag for the first time since 2007. Bunmahon beach in County Waterford has also won back a Blue Flag for the first time since 2012."
"Both Duncannon and Bunmahon beaches have been awarded in part due to a significant improvement of in-season bathing water quality over the most recent assessment period, 2022 to 2025. Six beaches that were awarded the Blue Flag in 2025 have not been awarded in 2026, these are: Lahinch, in County Clare; Fountainstown, in County Cork; Portsalon in County Donegal; Ardmore Beach and Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East in Waterford; and Ballymoney, North Beach in Wexford."
"For the first time in Blue Flag history in Ireland a boat, the Skellig Bounty, operated by Aqua Terra Boat Tours on Valentia Island in Co. Kerry, has been awarded a Blue Flag. County Kerry has been awarded with the most Blue Flags in 2026 while Cork received the most Green Coast Awards with 13."
Duncannon Beach in County Wexford received a Blue Flag for the first time since 2007. The international Blue Flag programme awards bathing areas that achieve excellent water quality in annual classification. Twelve beaches received both a Blue Flag and a Green Coast Award, achieving dual award status. These include beaches across Fingal, Galway, Cork, Kerry, Meath, Sligo, and Waterford. County Kerry received the most Blue Flags in 2026, while Cork received the most Green Coast Awards with 13. For the first time in Ireland, a boat, the Skellig Bounty, received a Blue Flag. Blue Flag criteria cover water quality, waste management, biodiversity protection, education, information, safety, and accessibility. Duncannon and Bunmahon improved in-season bathing water quality between 2022 and 2025.
#blue-flag #beach-water-quality #green-coast-award #ireland-coastal-tourism #environmental-standards
Read at Irish Independent
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