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Kayakers ride a large wave at the popular surf beach of Spanish Point, County Clare - now reopen for business. James Horan/Photocall Ireland

Clare beaches re-opened after e-coli scare

The Blue Flags have been restored at Lahinch and Kilkee.

CLARE COUNTY COUNCIL has lifted restrictions relating to public bathing and other water activities at the popular Lahinch, Kilkee and Spanish Point beaches as concerns about a possible e-coli scare pass.

After receiving advice from the Health Service Executive, the council said it is no longer prohibited to swim or surf at the locations.

The Blue Flag at Lahinch and Kilkee beaches, which were temporarily withdrawn on Friday, have also been restored.

“Lifeguards at each of the three bathing areas also have been instructed to remove all red flags which had indicated that bathing was prohibited,” said Anne Haugh, director of services at the council.

Preliminary results of water samples taken at the three beaches yesterday have shown a dramatic reduction of levels of bacteria in the water. An improvement in weather conditions in recent days has been the main contributory factor to the positive results.

The restrictions were put in place yesterday after the results of routine tests showed traces of e-coli.

Earlier: E-coli traces found in bathing water at three Clare holiday resorts>

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12 Comments
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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 21st 2012, 2:54 PM

    Ink an area like Spanish Point the e-Coli can only have come from improperly installed or maintained septic tanks…..there should be some sort of investigation as this is a very worrying development.

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    Mute mattoid
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    Jul 21st 2012, 4:14 PM

    Not necessarily – slurry run-off is also a strong possibility. It depends on the strain of e-coli detected as it is not exclusive to humans…

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    Mute Michael
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    Jul 21st 2012, 4:34 PM

    Dont want to seem pedantic john, but the genera has a capital letter and the species doesn’t .i.e. E.coli

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 21st 2012, 6:38 PM

    Tell it to my iPad Michael. It originally auto filled iColin and I just lazily knocked off the “n” !!

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    Mute John O'Neill
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    Jul 21st 2012, 6:40 PM

    That should have read ” eColin”. Curse this auto fill…

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    Mute Michael
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    Jul 21st 2012, 4:17 PM

    it could be from manure spread on land and seeped into waterways due to heavy rainfall,

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    Mute tuba hg
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    Jul 21st 2012, 7:08 PM

    Kilkee have had pollution issues for a number of years due to effluent being channelled directly into the Atlantic which is why they don’t have a blue flag
    Clare Co Co/Kilkee Town Council get your act together and deal with this once and for all.
    Kilkee is one of the most beautiful resorts in Ireland why don’t the locals lobby more rather than just complain on local radio

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    Mute Martin Sinnott
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    Jul 21st 2012, 3:43 PM

    They have shot themselves in the foot. They put off people going to the Clare with there notices on Friday and then all is well on Saturday. The B & B, hotels and businesses must be fuming.

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    Mute bronwyn walsh
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    Jul 21st 2012, 7:28 PM

    Kilkee does have a blue flag. I have just spent a great week there for my hold. It’s a lovely clean beach normally

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    Mute tuba hg
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    Jul 21st 2012, 8:25 PM

    I stand corrected re the blue flag apologies but there have been effluent issues regularly in Kilkee and both Councils just bury their head in the sand if you will pardon the pun

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    Mute Tom Sullivan
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    Jul 21st 2012, 8:01 PM

    Since when can a council prohibit swimming? Surely the most they can do is make recommendations? Or did we turn into a UK-style police state while I was sleeping?

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    Mute bronwyn walsh
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    Jul 21st 2012, 7:30 PM

    I mean holiday :)

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