ALL NINE Blue Flag beaches managed by Clare County Council have retained their prestigious status for the 2021 bathing season. Kilrush Marina retains the Blue Flag status awarded last year. The four Clare beaches that received the Green Coast Award have also retained the award for the coming season.
At a virtual ceremony on Tuesday (May 25), An Taisce revealed the list of Blue Flag Beaches and Marinas for 2021, which includes Ballycuggeran, Killaloe; Cappagh Pier, Kilrush; Fanore; Kilkee; Lahinch; Mountshannon; Spanish Point; White Strand Doonbeg and White Strand Miltown Malbay.
On the latest list for the Green Coast Awards are Seafield, Quilty; Bishop’s Quarter, Ballyvaughan; Ballyallia Lake, Ennis; and Carrigaholt Beach.
The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised eco-labels. The Blue Flag originated in France in 1985 when French coastal Local Authorities were awarded with the Blue Flag for compliance with sewage treatment and bathing water quality criteria. 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. This year Ireland continues to punch above its weight with a record breaking 93 sites awarded, up two on last year’s total.
The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas and inland bathing waters around the world. The 83 Irish beaches and 10 marinas that have achieved this accolade must adhere to specific criteria related to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and site management.
The Green Coast Awards were presented back in 2003 to four beaches in County Wexford, then the award was rolled out nationally in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. The award recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty. An important aspect of the Green Coast Awards is the involvement of Clean Coasts groups in the management of awarded sites.
Commenting Minister Darragh O’Brien offered his congratulations to each of the communities who won the awards. “Winning a Blue Flag or a Green Coast award is a collective effort with local authorities, An Taisce, local coastal communities and other volunteers on the ground all playing their part,” he said. “My Department and indeed the wider Government is committed to supporting programmes such as the Blue Flag and Green Coast Award and to building on them to achieve positive changes in environmental behaviour countrywide.
Ian Diamond Coastal Awards Manager for An Taisce also acknowledged the work of the local authorities and marina operators. “I would also like to commend the many thousands of Clean Coasts volunteers who make an invaluable contribution to the protection of Ireland’s coastal environment, not just at the beaches receiving a Green Coast Award today, but all along the coastline and along riversides, canals and lakeshores inland,” he said. “Without the collaborative approach to beach management demonstrated by local authorities and Clean Coasts groups around the country the Green Coast Awards would not be possible.”