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Coastal Awards Recognise Ireland’s Best Beaches and Marinas

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8 years ago

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Coastal Awards – Pictured above – of Mayor of Fingal. Cllr. David O’Connor, Minister for The Environment, Community and Local Government (until the end of may he still is environment) and Dr. Michael John O’Mahony, Director , An Taisce Environmental Education Unit

On Thursday the 26 of May, An Taisce announced the International Blue Flag Award and the National Green Coastal Awards recipients for the 2016 bathing season. A total of 141 awards were presented by the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Mr. Simon Coveney, T.D, at an awards ceremony held on the Velvet Strand, Portmarnock in Fingal at 12 noon.

Coatal Awards

26-5-2016
**Coastal Awards Recognise Ireland’s Best Beaches and Marinas**
Picture shows from left sisters Alannah (3) and Caoimhe (5) Culhane celebrating An Taisce’s Blue Flag Awards 2016 at Seapoint,Co Dublin.Pic:Naoise Culhane-no fee


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Speaking at the awards Minister Coveney noted that

“In Ireland, we are particularly fortunate to have a varied and beautiful coastline with many pristine beaches that are open to the public to enjoy. However, we cannot rest on our laurels and must continue to make strident efforts to protect and improve our waters. This will ensure that we, and future generations, can continue to enjoy this wonderful resource.”

Mr. Ian Diamond, Coastal Awards Manager at An Taisce’s Environmental Education Unit

speaking at the awards said:

“I would like on behalf of An Taisce to pay tribute to the Local Authorities and marina operators here today for all their efforts in ensuring that the sites being awarded for the 2016 bathing season have achieved the excellent standards required by the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards”.

The 79 Irish beaches and 6 marinas are awarded the prestigious Blue Flag Award for the 2016 bathing Season. The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised eco-labels. The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental practices and behaviours among beach and marina users.  The 79 Irish beaches and 6 marinas that achieved this accolade met a specific set of criteria related to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and beach management. 

As a pre-requisite, the bathing water at Blue Flag beaches must meet the highest standards of bathing water quality. The overall Blue Flags in Ireland this year is down only one on 2015, whilst four of the beaches awarded in 2015 did not retain Blue Flag status, the Blue Flag will be raised for the first time at Ballymoney North Beach in Wexford and Brittas Bay North regains Blue Flag status lost last year. Fenit Marina in Kerry has also been awarded a Blue Flag this year whilst all of the marinas awarded last year have retained Blue Flag status for the coming season.

An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland is responsible for the operation of the Blue Flag programme in Ireland on behalf of the Foundation of Environmental Education.

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