TWELVE beaches in Donegal have retained their Blue Flag awards, indicating excellent water quality, good information provision, environmental education as well as safety and beach management for the duration of this year’s bathing season.
The award winning local beaches are Bundoran; Carrickfinn; Culdaff; Downings; Fintra; Killahoey; Marble Hill; Murvagh; Narin; Portsalon; Rossnowlagh and Shroove.
Rathmullan Marina retained its Blue Flag for the 2024 season although the pontoon has been removed from the pier area to allow the refurbishment work at the pier to go ahead tin good weather.
Greencastle, which was awarded a Marina Blue Flag last year was taken out of the running by council for this year because of completion works to the sea wall there.
Former award winning beaches on Lough Swilly, Lisfannon, Lady’s Bay and Rathmullan Beaches failed to make the grade again this year.
Uisce Éireann are currently undertaking an upgrade of the Buncrana waste water system to improve water quality in the lough.
Donegal County Council erected a warning sign at Lady’s Bay in the past few weeks to advise the public against swimming there due to poor water quality. This is the third summer such a notice has been in operation there.
A total of 85 beaches and nine marinas have been awarded Blue Flag status, one of the most internationally recognised and prestigious accolades in eco-tourism around the world.
The Blue Flag Programme requires that beaches being awarded for the upcoming season have achieved “Excellent” bathing water quality in the most recent annual classification.
The awards were presented by Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Education Hildegarde Naughton in the Galway Bay Hotel this week.
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