Note: This article has been updated to include a list of all Blue Flag locations. 

THE ANNUAL BLUE Flag bathing awards have been announced this afternoon at an event on Velvet Strand in the north Dublin suburb of Portmarnock.

79 Irish beaches and six marinas have been awarded the flag in advance of the 2016 bathing season. Swimming spots need to meet a specific set of criteria related to water quality, information provision, safety and beach management to get one.

The overall number of Blue Flags is down one on 2015 – and four of the beaches awarded in 2015 did not retain their Blue Flag status.

However, the flag will be raised for the first time at Ballymoney North Beach in Wexford, and Brittas Bay North regains the status it lost last year. Fenit Marina in Kerry has also been awarded a Blue Flag this year – while all of the marinas awarded last year have retained Blue Flag status for the coming season.

National trust organisation An Taisce, which operates the awards, said applications were not received for the following beaches, which had been successful last year:

• Redbarn (Cork)
• Garretstown (Cork)
• Portrane (Fingal)

According to this morning’s press release announcing the Blue Flags:

These beaches did not meet the excellent water quality standard required for Blue Flag status.

Additionally:

Ross Strand in Mayo was not awarded the Blue Flag due to there being less lifeguard cover than advised during in-season control visits.

Environment minister Simon Coveney announced this year’s awards, noting that “while the quality of Ireland’s bathing water remains very high, we must not become complacent”.

We must continue to invest  in improving water services infrastructure so as to improve the quality of our waters. This will support the great effort being put into the Blue Flag Programme by the local authorities and coastal communities.

The full list of beaches

• Louth: Port, Templetown, Clogherhead
• Fingal: Donabate, Portmarnock 
• Dun Laoghaire Rathdown: Killiney, Seapoint
• Wicklow: Brittas Bay North, Brittas Bay South, Greystones South
• Wexford: Curracloe, Courtown, Morriscastle, Rosslare Strand, Ballinesker, Ballymoney North Beach
• Waterford: Clonea, Counsellor’s Strand, Dunmore, Tramore
• Cork: Garrylucas, Inchydoney, Owenahincha, Barleycove, Tragumna
• Kerry: Ballinskelligs, Ballybunion North, Ballybunion South, Ballyheigue, Banna, Derrynane, Fenit, Inch, Kells, Maherabeg, Ventry, White Strand, Rossbeigh
• Clare: Ballycuggeran, Whitestrand Doonbeg, Mountshannon, Cappa, Fanore, Lahinch, Spanish Point, Miltown Malbay
• Galway: Traught, Cill Mhuirbhigh, Loughrea, Tra an Doilin, Tra Mhor – Indreabhan, Salthill, Silverstrand
• Mayo: Dooega, Carrowmore, Clare Island, Mulranny, Golden Strand, Mullaghroe, Silverstrand – Dugort, Keel, Elly Bay, Keem, Bertra
• Sligo: Rosses Point
• Donegal: Bundoran, Culdaff, Fintra, Downings, Killahoey, Marblehill, Lisfannon, Murvagh, Naran, Magherawarden, Stroove, Rossnowlagh, Carrickfinn

The full list of marinas

Killinure Point Marina, Westmeath; Kilmore Quay and New Ross Marina, Wexford; The Royal Cork Yacht Club and Kinsale Yacht Club, Cork; Fenit Marina, Kerry

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