Nine Blue Flags announced for Mayo beaches

MAYO will have nine Blue Flag beaches this year - a drop of two from 2021.

Clare Island and Carrowmore beach outside Louisburgh have lost the status as they didn't achieved the 'Excellent' water quality classification necessary for a Blue Flag. However, their classification of 'Good' is the second highest available based on analysis of bathing water samples over the past four bathing seasons.

Mayo's nine Blue Flag beaches announced this morning are:

Dooega Beach, Achill Island

Dugort Beach, Achill Island

Elly Bay, Belmullet

Golden Strand, Achill Island

Keel Beach, Achill Island

Keem Beach, Achill Island

Mullaghroe Beach, Belmullet

Mulranny Beach

Ross Beach, Killala

Five Mayo beaches received Green Coast Awards: Termon Beach, Srah Beach, Portacloy Beach, Rinroe, and Tránaun on Inishturk.

A record-breaking 95 Blue Flags and 62 Green Coast Awards have been announced, the Blue Flag being an internationally recognised symbol of high standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety.

The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas and eco-tourism boats around the world.

An important aspect of the Green Coast Awards is the involvement of Clean Coasts groups, of which there are currently over 1,800 comprised of tens of thousands of volunteers nationwide. These volunteers participate in community clean-ups and in cooperation with local authorities help sensitively manage their local beaches throughout the year.