Press Room
Garretstown Beach in Co. Cork has been awarded a Blue Flag for the 2023 Bathing Season
An Taisce as national operators of the Blue Flag programme in Ireland are pleased to announce that Blue Flag award status has been reinstated at Garretstown Co. Cork. As previously communicated by An Taisce to Cork County Council on behalf of the national Blue Flag jury Garretstown was being considered for award of the Blue Flag for the 2023 season on condition that receptacles for recyclable materials would be in place at the beach in time for the 2023 bathing season. The jury supported a 2022 control visit finding that the distance recyclable waste had to be carried for disposal from Garretstown to the far side of Garrylucas beach was too great for the beach to be in compliance with Blue Flag award criterion 18. Blue Flag Beach award criterion requires that facilities for the separation of recyclable waste materials be available to beach users at Blue Flag beaches.
The International Blue Flag jury met on April 19th 2023 and selected Garretstown as one of the 11 beaches in Cork to be awarded Blue Flag status for the 2023 bathing season. This decision was made on the basis that provision for recycling bins at Garretstown Beach had been approved in principle and suitable sites were being assessed by the council at that time.
After the International Jury meeting had taken place, Cork County Council communicated to An Taisce that a decision had been made not to install recycling bins at Garretstown as previously indicated. The National Blue Flag jury decided that as all award criteria were not being met that Blue Flag status had to be withdrawn from Garretstown Beach.
Following the official announcement of the awarded beaches on May 19th Cork County Council advised An Taisce of their intention to move recycling facilities at the adjacent beach Garrylucas to the car park, nearest Garretstown beach for the bathing season. This proposal was circulated to the national Blue Flag jury members for their consideration. The proposed solution would halve the distance for beach users of Garretstown beach to the recycling facilities at Garrylucas. The national jury agreed on the basis of the proposal outlined above to reinstate the Blue Flag at Garretstown for the 2023 bathing season.
Blue Flag is a programme of The Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), which is headquartered in Copenhagen. The decision to award a Blue Flag to a beach or marina in Ireland is not made by An Taisce. The award decisions are made by the International Blue Flag jury, based on submissions from national juries in countries operating the programme. The national jury in Ireland is composed of representatives from An Taisce as national Blue Flag operator; The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage; The EPA; Water Safety Ireland; Fáilte Ireland; Irish Sailing, Disability Federation Ireland, Trinity College and KPMG. It is a requirement of the award that all criteria must be met in order to award a Blue Flag.
AN TAISCE BLUE FLAG AND GREEN COAST AWARDS PRESS RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL BLUE FLAG AND GREEN COAST AWARDS FOR IRELAND
2023 Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards Recognise Ireland’s Best Beaches and Marinas
A Record-breaking of 159 Awards awarded for the 2023 season
Media queries to Sinead McCoy, Coastal Communities Manager, An Taisce smccoy@eeu.antaisce.org
Today, An Taisce has announced the recipients of the International Blue Flag and the National Green Coast Awards for 2023. A total of 159 awards, an increase of two awards compared to 2022, were presented by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Mr. Darragh O’Brien, TD, at an awards ceremony held on the Shoreline Hotel, overlooking Donabate’s Balcarrick Blue Flag beach in Co. Dublin. The event was organised in collaboration with Fingal County Council.
Speaking at the awards ceremony Minister O’Brien said: “This year celebrates the 20th anniversary of Clean Coasts and the Green Coast Awards and I am delighted to present a record-breaking 65 Green Coast Awards today. It also marks 36 years of the Blue Flag as an international programme and I am pleased to present 94 Blue Flags for the 2023 season. During its 36 years, the Blue Flag has become an internationally recognised symbol of high standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety. Today’s high number of awards is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the local authorities, An Taisce, local coastal communities and other volunteers around the country.”
For the 2023 season, 159 awards were conferred, marking a notable milestone as two additional sites received the prestigious award this year. During the ceremony, 84 beaches and ten marinas in Ireland received the Blue Flag, while 65 beaches were awarded the Green Coast Award.
In the 36th edition of the award in Ireland, 84 beaches and 10 marinas were awarded the prestigious Blue Flag this year. Talking about the event, Ms. Cathy Baxter, Director of the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce, said: “We were delighted to have been present on the beautiful sandy beach of Donabate, as we gathered to celebrate another remarkable year of recognition for all the sites that have been honoured with the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards for the 2023 season. It takes immense dedication and effort to manage a beach or marina to meet the rigorous standards set by these prestigious award programmes, and we extend our warmest congratulations to all the deserving sites that have achieved this remarkable reward.”
For 2023, 81 of the 85 beaches and all 10 marinas awarded last year have retained Blue Flag status for the season 2023. Three additional sites from Mayo are included this year, Bertra, Clare Island (Louisburgh) and Old Head, which it was awarded for the first time since 2012.
The Green Coast Award has achieved a noteworthy milestone by granting 65 awards for the 2023 bathing season. This is an increase of 3 awards compared to last year, and the highest number of awards given since its establishment. These achievements coincide with the celebration of Clean Coasts’s 20-year anniversary.
The 3 extra sites awarded are Carrowniskey Beach, County Mayo, awarded for the last time in 2019, Bettystown in County Meath, awarded for the first time, and Rosslare Harbour Beach in County Wexford, last awarded in 2021.
The Green Coast Awards were first presented back in 2003 to four beaches in County Wexford, it was rolled out nationally in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. An important aspect of the Green Coast Awards is the involvement of Clean Coasts groups, of which they 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 manage their local beaches throughout the year.
Ends /////
Detailed explanatory notes for editors below.
Summary Awards: 159 awards for 2023
- 159 awards announced for 151 sites today, 2 more than last year with 8 sites receiving both the Blue Flag and Green Coast Award.
- The county with the most awarded sites is Cork with 27: 10 Blue Flag beaches, 2 Blue Flag marinas and 15 Green Coast Awarded sites.
- The 8 sites receiving both the Blue Flag and Green Coast Award are Fountainstown and Inchydoney East Beach (County Cork), Balcarrick, Donabate (County Fingal), Salthill Beach and Silverstrand Beach (Galway City), Trá Inis Oírr (County Galway), Baile an Sceilg, Ballinskelligs (County Kerry) and Rosses Point Beach (County Sligo).
Blue Flag key notes: 84 Beaches and 10 marinas awarded the Blue Flag for 2023
- The Blue Flag Programme has been in operation since 1988 in Ireland, when 19 flags were awarded.
- 94 Blue Flags are being announced today, 84 beaches and 10 marinas.
- 3 beaches not awarded in 2022 have been awarded for the coming bathing season. These are: Bertra, Clare Island (Louisburgh), and Old Head, all in County Mayo.
- Bertra in Mayo, which last flew a Blue Flag in 2020 has been awarded for the 2023 bathing season.
- Clare Island, Louisburgh in Mayo regained its Blue Flag status after losing it in 2022 for not having achieved the “Excellent” classification for water quality.
- Old Head in County Mayo has been awarded a Blue Flag for the first time since 2012.
- All 10 marinas awarded in 2022 have retained Blue Flag status for the coming season.
- Kerry is the county with the most Blue Flags in 2023 with 15.
- The 4 beaches awarded in 2022 that have not been awarded for the 2023 season are: Cappagh Pier, Kilrush in County Clare, Garretstown in County Cork, and Counsellors’ Strand (Dunmore East) and Dunmore Strand (Dunmore East) in County Waterford.
Green Coast Award Key Notes: 65 beaches awarded the Blue Flag for 2023
- 2023 is the year of the 20th anniversary of Clean Coasts and the Green Coast Award, which started locally in Wexford in 2003 and became a national award in 2008.
- A new milestone has been reached as a record-breaking number of 65 beaches have been awarded for the 2023 season.
- 3 new sites were awarded this year, 2 of them regained the award lost in previous seasons. These sites are Carrowniskey Beach (County Mayo), Bettystown (County Meath) and Rosslare Harbour Beach (County Wexford).
- Carrowniskey Beach, County Mayo, awarded for the last time in 2019, has been awarded for the 2023 season.
- Bettystown in County Meath has been awarded a Green Coast Award for the first time this year.
- Rosslare Harbour Beach in County Wexford, regained the award after not being awarded in 2022.
- Cork is the county with the most Green Coast Award beaches again in 2023 with 15.
- Waterville in County Kerry and Portacloy in County Mayo, last awarded in 2022, haven’t been awarded due to not achieving the “Excellent” water quality status required.
For further details click on full press release below
AN TAISCE BLUE FLAG AND GREEN COAST AWARDS PRESS RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL BLUE FLAG AND GREEN COAST AWARDS FOR IRELAND
2021 Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards Recognise Ireland’s Best Beaches and Marinas
A NEW RECORD: 93 Blue Flags and 63 Green Coast Awards for 2021
Media contact: Ian Diamond, blueflag@eeu.antaisce.org or 087 1120460
Today, the International Blue Flag and Green Coast Award recipients for 2021 were announced by the Education Unit of An Taisce. The number of Blue Flags awarded this season set a new record for the Republic of Ireland.
The Blue Flag and Green Coast Award sites for 2021 were announced by Ian Diamond, Coastal Awards Manager with An Taisce’s Environmental Education unit this morning in a virtual awards ceremony attended by Local Authorities, marina operators and Clean Coasts groups who volunteer at the beaches receiving Green Coast Awards this year.
Blue Flag
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 2 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.
Today the 83 beaches and 10 marinas being awarded the Blue Flag for the 2021 season were announced by Mr. Ian Diamond, Coastal Awards Manager with An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit. 79 of the 81 beaches and all 10 marinas awarded last year have retained Blue Flag status for 2021. 4 additional beaches have obtained Blue Flag status for the 2021 bathing season.
In Cork Warren, Cregane Strand has regained Blue Flag status last held in 2013, while Inchydoney East has been awarded a Blue Flag for the first time. The awarding of these two beaches brings the total number of beaches awarded the Blue Flag in Cork to 10 the joint highest to date. The retention of Blue Flag status at both Kinsale Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club means that Cork has a total of 12 Blue Flag beaches and marinas a record annual haul for the rebel county. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has been awarded a Blue Flag for Killiney for the first time since 2016. Golden Strand on Achill island in County Mayo has regained Blue Flag status last held in 2018. The improvement in bathing water quality rating at Warrren, Cregane Strand, Killiney and Golden Strand over the past four seasons has enabled their being awarded this year.
63 Beaches receive the Green Coast Award for the 2021 Bathing Season
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.
Today the 63 beaches to receive Green Coast Award status were announced by An Taisce a virtual awards ceremony to representatives of the Local Authorities and Clean Coasts groups responsible for their management.
61 of the beaches awarded in 2020, of which 61 have retained Green Coast Award status for the coming season. There are 2 first time recipients of the Green Coast Award in 2021: Rush South Beach in Dublin and Gurteen Bay in County Galway.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who was today in attendance at a ceremony marking the centenary of the burning of the Custom House, and so could not attend this morning’s awards announcement had the following message for attendees of this year’s awards.
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “I want to offer my sincere congratulations to each of the communities who have won these most prized 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. 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.
Mr. Ian Diamond Coastal Awards Manager for An Taisce speaking at this mornings virtual Blue Flag and Green Coast Award presentation ceremony said:
“I would like to thanks and acknowledge the work of the Local Authorities and marina operators with us today for all their efforts in ensuring that the sites being awarded this year have achieved the excellent standards required by the Blue Flag. 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. 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”
For further details click on full press release below
AN TAISCE BLUE FLAG AND GREEN COAST AWARDS PRESS RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL BLUE FLAG AND GREEN COAST AWARDS FOR IRELAND
2022 Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards Recognise Ireland’s Best Beaches and Marinas
A Record-breaking 95 Blue Flags and 62 Green Coast Awards awarded in 2022
Media contact: Ian Diamond, blueflag@eeu.antaisce.org or 087 1120460
Today, An Taisce announced the International Blue Flag and Green Coast Award recipients for 2022. The awards were presented by Malcolm Noonan TD, Minister of State with responsibility for Heritage and Electoral Reform at a ceremony Curracloe Beach in County Wexford this afternoon.
Speaking at the awards ceremony Minister Noonan stated that:
“This year celebrates 35 years of the Blue Flag as an international programme and during that time the Blue Flag has become an internationally recognised symbol of high standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety. I am pleased to be presenting 95 blue flags and 62 green coast awards today and want to commend the great efforts made by local authorities, An Taisce, coastal communities and volunteers for their work around the country.”
Mr. Ian Diamond, Coastal Awards Manager for An Taisce in announcing this year’s Blue Flag and Green Coast Award recipients stated:
“We were delighted to be welcomed to the Sunny Southeast today for the opportunity to celebrate the beaches and marinas awarded for the 2022 season. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to manage a beach or marina to the excellent standards required by these award programmes. It’s been too long since we’ve had the opportunity to acknowledge these efforts in person, and I would like to thank all in attendance and our hosts Wexford County Council for helping us make today’s event worth the wait”.
For further details click on full press release below
AN TAISCE BLUE FLAG AND GREEN COAST AWARDS PRESS RELEASE
INTERNATIONAL BLUE FLAG AND GREEN COAST AWARDS FOR IRELAND
2021 Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards Recognise Ireland’s Best Beaches and Marinas
A NEW RECORD: 93 Blue Flags and 63 Green Coast Awards for 2021
Media contact: Ian Diamond, blueflag@eeu.antaisce.org or 087 1120460
Today, the International Blue Flag and Green Coast Award recipients for 2021 were announced by the Education Unit of An Taisce. The number of Blue Flags awarded this season set a new record for the Republic of Ireland.
The Blue Flag and Green Coast Award sites for 2021 were announced by Ian Diamond, Coastal Awards Manager with An Taisce’s Environmental Education unit this morning in a virtual awards ceremony attended by Local Authorities, marina operators and Clean Coasts groups who volunteer at the beaches receiving Green Coast Awards this year.
Blue Flag
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 2 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.
Today the 83 beaches and 10 marinas being awarded the Blue Flag for the 2021 season were announced by Mr. Ian Diamond, Coastal Awards Manager with An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit. 79 of the 81 beaches and all 10 marinas awarded last year have retained Blue Flag status for 2021. 4 additional beaches have obtained Blue Flag status for the 2021 bathing season.
In Cork Warren, Cregane Strand has regained Blue Flag status last held in 2013, while Inchydoney East has been awarded a Blue Flag for the first time. The awarding of these two beaches brings the total number of beaches awarded the Blue Flag in Cork to 10 the joint highest to date. The retention of Blue Flag status at both Kinsale Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club means that Cork has a total of 12 Blue Flag beaches and marinas a record annual haul for the rebel county. Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council has been awarded a Blue Flag for Killiney for the first time since 2016. Golden Strand on Achill island in County Mayo has regained Blue Flag status last held in 2018. The improvement in bathing water quality rating at Warrren, Cregane Strand, Killiney and Golden Strand over the past four seasons has enabled their being awarded this year.
63 Beaches receive the Green Coast Award for the 2021 Bathing Season
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.
Today the 63 beaches to receive Green Coast Award status were announced by An Taisce a virtual awards ceremony to representatives of the Local Authorities and Clean Coasts groups responsible for their management.
61 of the beaches awarded in 2020, of which 61 have retained Green Coast Award status for the coming season. There are 2 first time recipients of the Green Coast Award in 2021: Rush South Beach in Dublin and Gurteen Bay in County Galway.
Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who was today in attendance at a ceremony marking the centenary of the burning of the Custom House, and so could not attend this morning’s awards announcement had the following message for attendees of this year’s awards.
Commenting Minister O’Brien said, “I want to offer my sincere congratulations to each of the communities who have won these most prized 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. 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.
Mr. Ian Diamond Coastal Awards Manager for An Taisce speaking at this mornings virtual Blue Flag and Green Coast Award presentation ceremony said:
“I would like to thanks and acknowledge the work of the Local Authorities and marina operators with us today for all their efforts in ensuring that the sites being awarded this year have achieved the excellent standards required by the Blue Flag. 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. 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”
For further details click on full press release below