Ten Irish marinas were awarded a Blue Flag in Ireland in 2023, nine of these have retained Blue Flag status for the coming season.
The Blue Flag awarded to Greencastle Marina in 2023 was withdrawn by Donegal County Council in July 2023 as construction works at the harbour on a breakwater necessitated closure of the seasonal marina there. There was no application for Greencastle Marina for 2024.
An Taisce announced the International Blue Flag and Green Coast Award recipients for 2024. The awards were presented by Hildegarde Naughton TD - Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Education at a ceremony held in the Galway Bay Hotel overlooking Salthill Blue Flag beach this afternoon.
Blue Flag Marina Awards 2024
Speaking at the awards ceremony Minister Naughton, who presented the award flags said: “It is my great pleasure to congratulate all of the recipients of International Blue Flags and Green Coast Awards today. For Ireland to be the home of 94 Blue Flags across the length and breadth of our beautiful beaches and marinas. As a Galway Minister, I am particularly proud to see the return of the Blue Flag to one of my own local swimming spots, Traught Beach in Kinvara, I know that this will be of particular note and celebration for many Galway swimmers.”
Continuing, Minister Naughton said: “As we get warmed up for the bathing and swimming season this year we are breaking the record with some 70 Beaches receiving the Green Coast Award. We all know just how lucky we are to have such beautiful water quality and natural beauty across our shores and this year’s recipients are testament to just how exceptional and rich in diversity that our beaches are. Congratulations to everyone involved and I want to wish a very happy and safe bathing and swimming season to everyone for 2024.”
Blue Flag Awards 2024
Talking at the event, Ms. Cathy Baxter, Director of the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce, said: “We were delighted to be welcomed to Salthill, a Blue Flag and Green Coast Award beach for many years, for the opportunity to celebrate the beaches and marinas awarded for the 2024 season. The Local Authorities, marina operators and Clean Coasts groups responsible for their management have worked tirelessly to ensure that these sites meet the excellent standards required by The Blue Flag and Green Coast Award. I would like to congratulate all the awardees on their success, and to thank Galway City Council for hosting us here today.”
Blue Flag
The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised environmental awards. Originating in France in 1985 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. 2024 is the 37th year that beaches and marinas have been awarded here in Ireland, with 94 beaches and marinas being awarded for the 2024 season.
The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas and eco-tourism boats around the world. The 85 Irish beaches and 9 marinas that have achieved this accolade must adhere to specific criteria related to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and site management for the duration of the bathing season.
Blue Flag 2024 in numbers: 85 Beaches and 9 marinas awarded the Blue Flag for 2024
- 3 beaches not awarded in 2023 have been awarded for the coming bathing season. These are: Bettystown Beach; Enniscrone Beach and Traught in Kinvara.
- Bettystown Beach in Meath has been awarded a Blue Flag for the first time since 1996 this year.
- Enniscrone in Sligo is being awarded for the first time since 2014.
- Traught has regained Blue Flag status last held in 2021.
- 82 of the 85 beaches awarded in 2023 have retained Blue Flag status for the 2024 bathing season.
- The 3 beaches, awarded in 2023 that have not been awarded for the 2024 season are: Rush South Beach in Fingal, Ballymoney North Beach in Wexford and Tramore in Waterford. 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. Each of the sites received a classification of “Good”, the second highest classification available based on analysis of bathing water samples over the past four bathing seasons.
- 10 marinas were awarded a Blue Flag in Ireland in 2023, 9 of these have retained Blue Flag status for the coming season. The Blue Flag awarded to Greencastle Marina in 2023 was withdrawn by Donegal County Council in July 2023 as construction works at the harbour on a breakwater necessitated closure of the seasonal marina there. There was no application for Greencastle Marina for 2024.
