Latest news with #BlueFlags
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- General
- Irish Independent
43 new lifeguards for Kerry as bathing season officially kicks off in county
The new members of the vital life saving club recently completed their induction training at the Ballyheigue Community Centre. In attendance at Ballyheigue on the day were Cllr Jimmy Moloney, Cathaoirleach of the Listowel MD, and Kerry County Council Water Safety Development Officers Leo Hilliard and Niall Hogan. The local politicians were present as part of the raising of the recently acquired Blue Flag at Ballyheigue Beach. A major highlight of the day at the North Kerry beach was a visit from one of the new AW189 Coast Guard helicopters. As part of the day's activities, the Coast Guard helicopter arrived on-site to provide lifeguards and local rescue units with a safety briefing and a tour of the aircraft. Kerry was awarded 15 Blue Flags for the 2025 bathing season; the 15 blue flag beaches for 2025 are Rossbeigh, Inch, Derrynane, Kells, Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs), Ballybunion North Beach, Ballybunion South Beach, Ballyheigue, Banna Strand, Fenit, Fionntrá (Ventry), Maharabeg and White Strand, Cahersiveen.
Irish Independent
20-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Fluttering with pride over Drogheda's blue and green flag beaches
Three of Drogheda's most iconic beaches - Bettystown, Clogherhead and Port - have all been awarded prestigious Blue Flags.
Irish Examiner
19-05-2025
- Irish Examiner
Councillors call for more parking and better amenities at Kerry's beaches
Lifeguards should be placed on duty on Kerry beaches earlier than scheduled and whenever there are prolonged periods of fine weather, a meeting of Kerry County Council has been told. The meeting also heard of 'traffic chaos' at major beaches over the weekend and there were calls for parking facilities to be developed by the council and the National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) at Inch which is part of the country's newest national park. Kerry was awarded 15 Blue Flags for beaches and coastal amenities for 2025, the highest number in the country. It has seen crowds on beaches over the prolonged period of fine weather. However, lifeguards traditionally do not come on duty until the first weekend in June. 'Not to have a lifeguard on duty is not where we want to be,' Fianna Fáil councillor Fionnán Fitzgerald said. While he was well aware next April and May might have very different weather, periods of fine weather such as this should signal the need for lifeguards to be brought on, Mr Fitzgerald said. The meeting also heard of 'chaotic scenes' with traffic at Inch Beach on the Dingle Peninsula over the weekend. The beach is the most popular in Kerry on social media tourist websites and is used all year round. It is is now part of the new Páirc Náisiunta na Mara. 'There was traffic chaos Saturday and Sunday,' Fine Gael councillor Tommy Griffin said. Cars got stuck in the sand, a bus got stuck on the road, and locals in high viz jackets had to try to direct traffic and bring order to the scene. A number of vehicle were clamped. During a medical emergency on Sunday at the beach volunteers from the local community council had to intervene. The situation at Inch had been going on for years, Mr Griffin said. I am calling on the NPWS to address the situation and designate a car park. There are thousands of acres on Inch beach. 'Were soft sand to be removed in early spring, that would have prevented a lot of the chaos,' Sinn Féin councillor Robert Brosnan said. Meanwhile, Banna Beach near Tralee where facilities including access and amenities have been seriously downgraded, will finally get funding, Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Ferris was told. She had been seeking such funding for five years. Safe beach access and basic amenities such as benches on the promenade are long standing issues, she said. Funding under the Outdoor Recreational Infrastructure Scheme (ORIS) for the design and installation of Trail Head / Recreational Support Facilities at three Blue Flag beaches including Banna has been obtained, the council said. Consultants have been appointed by Kerry County Council to undertake detailed design works and initial site surveys are currently being undertaken in Banna. Subject to completion of detailed design, facilities at Banna will include cycle stands, accessible seating and a picnic area. "The provision of these facilities will provide access-for-all and promote outdoor activities and water safety support,' the council told her in a written reply. An additional access point to the beach at Banna will also be considered for future suitable funding submissions under the appropriate grant headings. A draft plan is also being finalised for Inch Beach, also under ORIS funding, Mr Griffin was told. Meanwhile the council's director of roads Frank Hartnett said a council traffic warden was on duty at Inch over the weekend. Otherwise the situation would have been much worse. This article was funded by the Local Democracy Scheme.
Powys County Times
19-05-2025
- General
- Powys County Times
Three Ceredigion beaches to fly Blue Flags this year
Three Ceredigion beaches will fly Blue Flags in 2025. Borth, Llangrannog, and Tresaith have been recognised for their 'excellent' water quality, facilities, and safety provisions. In addition to the Blue Flags, six other beaches have been given Seaside Awards, and four have received the rural Green Coast Award. The Seaside Award is given to beaches that meet recognised water quality standards and have adequate public facilities, safety provisions, and management. Councillor Clive Davies, Ceredigion County Council's cabinet member for the economy and regeneration, said: "I am delighted to see that Blue, Green, and Seaside Award flags/plaques will be erected at Ceredigion's most popular bathing beaches in 2025, and we are fully expecting to see many visitors and locals alike enjoying themselves on beaches along the Ceredigion coast this summer." He also expressed his gratitude to the individuals, groups, organisations, and businesses that have volunteered their time to support the Caru Ceredigion initiative. This includes regular litter picks and the promotion of environmental conservation, wildlife education, and beach/water safety activities. Mr Davies said: "Without this long-standing support, we would not be able to put forward so many of our beaches and successfully obtain these prestigious coastal awards, which places Ceredigion beaches amongst the very best of coastal destinations in Wales and the UK whilst acting as a key driver for the Ceredigion economy." The beaches that have achieved prestigious coastal awards in 2025 are: Blue Flag (Overall excellent water quality standard): Borth, Llangrannog, and Tresaith. Seaside Award (Overall good or sufficient water quality standard): Clarach, Aberystwyth North, Aberystwyth South, New Quay Harbour, New Quay Dolau/North, and Aberporth. Green Coast Award (Overall excellent water quality standard): Llanrhystud, Cilborth-Llangrannog, Penbryn, and Mwnt. Beachgoers are advised to swim at a lifeguarded beach between the red and yellow flags, which denote the designated swimming areas patrolled by RNLI Lifeguards at Borth, Clarach, Aberystwyth North, Aberystwyth South, New Quay Harbour, Llangrannog, Tresaith, and Aberporth beaches.
Irish Independent
16-05-2025
- Irish Independent
Three Wicklow beaches will have Blue Flag status this summer – but popular bathing spots miss out
Across Ireland, 99 Blue Flags and 70 Green Coast Awards were announced on Friday, with six beaches in neighbouring Wexford being awarded Blue Flags, and a further two being awarded on the northern border in south Dublin, along with Blue Flags being given to two of Wexford's marinas. However, for a fourth successive year Wicklow will only have three, with recognised beaches that attract plenty of swimmers missing out. The Blue Flags for this bathing season, which begins in June, go to the beaches that have long-held that status in the south of Greystones, and both north and south areas of Brittas Bay. Having last flown a Blue Flag in 2021, Bray has again failed to come up to the mark for the international award, as have all the beaches in Wicklow town and Arklow. Although water quality plays a part in obtaining a Blue Flag, there are many other boxes to tick, including having sufficient lifeguard cover, information boards, a drinking water supply and other facilities. Though they did not fit other criteria, Arklow South Beach, Wicklow Harbour and Bray South Promenade do have lifeguard cover in the bathing season, although Arklow South Beach's lifeguard hut will move this year to The Cove as the area was deemed safer for swimming. Last year Arklow South Beach earned a Green Coast Award, which recognised its clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty. However, the beach has not been awarded that status this year. Despite this, Arklow South Beach was considered to have generally good quality water in the latest Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) report on bathing water quality, which was taken from last year's results. This finding is the second best for a less popular beach that is not managed under Bathing Water Quality Regulations, with 'highest quality' being the highest recordable standard. This was achieved by similar beaches at The Murrough in Wicklow town, Kilcoole and the area south of Bray Harbour. The bathing area in Wicklow Harbour achieved the next status down, termed 'meets minimum standard'. In the same report, recognised bathing areas at Wicklow's Blue Flag beaches all achieved the highest water quality rating of 'excellent', with Silver Strand near Wicklow town ranked just below at 'good' along with Bray South Promenade. From next year, The Cove in Greystones will be recorded. ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Speaking at the launch of Blue Flags and Green Coast Awards in Curracloe in Wexford, Heritage Minister James Browne said: 'We've come a long way since the beginning of Ireland's Blue Flag awards in 1988, when 19 beaches and two marinas were recognised. 'This didn't happen by magic. Great credit must go to local authorities, An Taisce, coastal communities and particularly all those local volunteers who have worked tirelessly around the country to keep so many of our coastal areas, beaches and marinas in pristine condition for us all to enjoy. 'Presenting these awards on a great day in Curracloe and – in the current good weather - anticipating the happy days ahead for so many families on this very beach over the summer, I am particularly proud that the beautiful beaches and marinas from around my own home county of Wexford are amongst those recognised today.' In Wexford, Carne, Curracloe, Ballinesker and Ballymoney, North Beach, Morriscastle, and Rosslare Strand, will all fly Blue Flags this year, along with Kilmore Quay and New Ross Marina. Additionally, the county has earned 10 Green Coast Awards for Baginbun Beach, Ballyhealy, Booley Bay, Cahore Point, Cullenstown Strand, Culleton's Gap, Grange, Old Bawn Beach, Rosslare Harbour Beach and St Helen's Bay. The first Green Coast Awards were presented to four beaches in Wexford in 2003. The award was rolled out nationally in 2008. An important aspect of it is the link with voluntary Clean Coasts groups, who participate in community clean-ups and help manage the applicant beaches in cooperation with local authorities. South Dublin's Blue Flag beaches are Seapoint in Dun Laoghaire and Killiney.
