Achill beach regains its Blue Flag status
GOLDEN Strand in Achill has regained its Blue Flag status, last held in 2018 - a welcome boost for the island ahead of the summer tourism season.
One Blue Flag was not retained in the county - at Bertra Beach outside Westport.
The Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards were announced this morning (Tuesday) in a virtual awards ceremony, with a record number of Blue Flag awards nationally.
Eleven Mayo beaches were awarded Blue Flag status:
Golden Strand, Achill Island
Carrowmore Beach, Louisburgh
Clare Island
Dooega Beach, Achill Island
Elly Bay, Belmullet
Keel Beach, Achill Island
Keem Beach, Achill Island
Mullaghroe Beach, Belmullet
Mulranny Beach
Ross Beach, Killala
Dugort Beach, Achill Island
Six Green Coasts awards were also announced for the county:
Cross, Erris Peninsula
Portacloy Beach
Srah Beach
Termon Beach
Tránaun, Inishturk
Rinroe
The improvement in bathing water quality rating at Golden Strand over the past four seasons enabled it to receive a Blue Flag this year.
Two beaches nationally have not retained Blue Flag status awarded in 2020.
Both Ballymoney North Beach in Co. Wexford and Bertra in Mayo failed to achieve the Excellent Water Quality Rating necessary to obtain Blue Flag status in 2021. Mayo County Council did not apply for a Blue Flag for Bertra for 2021 for this reason.
An Excellent rating is the highest available and the bathing water quality at both of these sites deteriorated slightly, with both sites achieving Good Status based on the analysis of in-season water quality samples taken between 2017 and 2020.
The award sites were announced by Ian Diamond, Coastal Awards Manager with An Taisce’s Environmental Education unit this morning.
The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised eco-labels.
This year Ireland continues to punch above its weight with a record breaking 93 sites awarded, up two on last year’s total.
Martin Keating, Head of of Environment, Climate Change & Agriculture, at Mayo County Council welcomed the Blue Flag Status and Green Coast for the 17 Mayo beaches.
He said: “We are delighted to have regained the Blue Flag on Golden Strand beach in Achill, but somewhat disappointed that despite our best efforts we have fallen marginally short of meeting the required standard for Blue Flag on Bertra and Old Head.
"We will redouble our effort over the coming bathing season and would ask beach users to assist us by eliminating dog fouling on these beaches as it has been identified as a potential source of impact on the water quality.
"The Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards are a global recognition of high standards of Mayo beaches.
"I acknowledge the work of the environmental team and Municipal District staff at Mayo County Council together with local community groups and other agencies for all their efforts in ensuring that our beaches continue to be maintained at the high standards required to be awarded Blue Flag and Green Coast for the 2021 bathing season."