If you’re looking for a beautiful beach to soak up the sun this week, here’s a good list to start!
Twelve Donegal beaches have held onto their International Blue Flags this year, it has been announced.
They are:
- Culdaff
- Bundoran
- Carrickfinn
- Downings
- Fintra
- Killahoey
- Marble Hill
- Murvagh
- Naran (Narin)
- Portsalon
- Rossnowlagh
- Stroove
While Rathmullan retains the Blue Flag Marina award, there was no application for Greencastle Marina for 2024.
The Blue Flag awarded to Greencastle Marina in 2023 was withdrawn by Donegal County Council in July 2023 as construction works at the harbour on a breakwater necessitated closure of the seasonal marina there.
In total there were 94 Blue Flags and 70 Green Coast Awards announced across Ireland.
The beaches not awarded in 2023 that have been awarded for the coming bathing are Bettystown Beach in Meath; Enniscrone Beach in Sligo and Traught in Kinvara.
Three beaches which have lost their Blue Flags are Rush South Beach in Fingal, Ballymoney North Beach in Wexford and Tramore in Waterford.
The Blue Flag Programme requires that beaches have achieved Excellent bathing water quality in the most recent annual classification.
