|
Blue Flags put Kerry on the crest of a wave
by Jon Myles
KERRY has been crowned the bathing capital of Ireland.
The Kingdom has the highest number of the cleanest beaches in the country according to the latest round of the prestigious Blue Flag awards.
Kerry with 13 received the highest number of Blue Flags in the country while Donegal retained all its 12 Blue Flags.
The number in Cork decreased from eight to seven while Clare was unchanged with eight flags.
Waterford, Dublin and Wicklow all increased their number of Blue Flag beaches for the 2004 season.
Councillors Strand in Dunmore East along with Portrane, Killiney and Brittas Bay, all recovered their status as environmentally clean beaches.
The number of awards for Ireland stood at 73 — unchanged from last year.
Applicants have to demonstrate pristine water quality for two successive years before a flag is awarded.
But the granting of the coveted water quality measure can provide a boost for tourism in the area as it guarantees beaches meet and internationally agreed level of cleanliness.
Kerry’s success contrasted with two other western counties — who both paid the price for serious declines in bathing water quality.
Galway lost the Blue Flag status for two of its four designated beaches while three top strands in Mayo forfeited the international award for clean beaches.
Marked improvements in coastal waters in Dublin and Wicklow contrasted with a deterioration in basic water standards at beaches such as Spiddal in Galway and Keem on Achill Island in Mayo.
Overall, six beaches have lost their Blue Flags for 2004 for breaches of environmental management criteria.
They are: Owenahincha near Rosscarbery in Co Cork; Trá na mBan, An Spideal and Trá Mór, Caol Rua in Galway; Keem beach at Achill, Carrowmore beach at Louisburgh and Mullaghroe beach at Belmullet in Mayo.
Among the beaches which failed to be designated were Tramore and Spiddal Pier.
The International Blue Flag campaign is coordinated in Ireland by An Taisce with support from the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government.
| 