Bathing prohibited on seven mayo beaches

MAYO County Council in consultation with the HSE has announced that due to the influence of recent abnormal weather conditions, elevated levels of bacteria have been detected in the bathing water at a number of beaches in the county and recreational use and bathing is now prohibited at these beaches.

The beaches are Clare Island, Tallaghbawn, Cross Beach, Dooega Beach, Keel Beach, Dugort Beach and Ballycastle Beach.

A public bathing prohibition notice has been posted on the affected beaches and Blue Flags have been temporarily removed from Clare Island, Dooega, Keel and Dugort until the results return to within the Blue Flag quality limits.

The results of routine tests on water samples at these listed beached on Monday last, August 10, have shown elevated levels of E-coli.

The environment section of Mayo County Council arranged further testing on the above beaches yesterday, the results of which will be known on Friday.

Clare Island, however, has been re-sampled today and the results of that test will be known on Saturday.

It is expected that resumption of bathing will be recommended when the follow-up results are received.