DONEGAL has been awarded 14 Blue Flags for 12 of its beaches and two marinas and four of the county’s beaches received Green Coast Awards. Together with County Kerry, the two counties top the country’s list of coastal awards.
An Taisce announced the awards in a virtual ceremony on Tuesday with the number of Blue Flags awarded this season setting a new record of 83 beaches and ten marinas for the country.
The beaches in Donegal which retained their Blue Flag status from last year are Downings, Rossnowlagh, Bundoran, Carrickfinn, Culdaff, Fintra, Killahoey, Marble Hill, Portsalon, Murvagh, Nairn and Shroove. The marinas in Greencastle and Rathmullan also secured Blue Flags.
Green Coast Awards were given to Ballyheerin, Dooey Beach, Drumnatinney and Magheraroarty.
Three beaches previously awarded Blue Flag status failed to make this year’s list. They are Lisfannon Beach, Lady’s Bay in Buncrana and Rathmullan Beach.
Mr Ian Diamond Coastal Awards Manager for An Taisce speaking at Tuesday’s presentation “I would like to thank 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.”
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