Two less Blue Flag beaches in Mayo

MAYO will have two less Blue Flag beaches this year.

Carrowniskey and Clare Island are not being put forward for the status, with nine applications in Mayo - down from the 11 achieved last year.

Eleven bathing areas in the county received an 'excellent' bathing water classification in 2021: Keel, Keem, Dooega, Dugort, Mulranny, Golden Strand, Carrowniskey, Elly Bay, Mullaghroe, Rinroe, and Ross.

'Good' classifications included Old Head, Bertra, Clare Island and Carrowmore.

All those classified as 'excellent' have been nominated for the Blue Flag Award with the exception of Rinroe and Carrowniskey, which will be proposed for the Green Coast Award, which doesn't require the same level of facilities as Blue Flag beaches.

Old Head, Bertra, Carrowmore and Clare Island do not meet the water quality requirements for the 2022 bathing season, members of Mayo County Council's environment committee were told in a report, but additional resources are being put into winning their Blue Flags back.

A report from head of environment Martin Keating set out testing results from 2021 and actions to bring water quality at each of the four beaches up to a higher standard. They include consultation with Irish Water on wastewater infrastructure and inspections of septic tanks within close proximity of beaches.

At Bertra, a pilot project is being proposed where the public toilets will close this summer. Instead, temporary mobile toilet facilities will be in place for the 2022 bathing season to remove the risk identified with the existing facilities.

There are other variables, too, such as climate change, and rainfall patterns can also impact on managing water quality.

Councillor Peter Flynn said on the face of it, it wasn't good news. Not so long ago the county had 13 Blue Flag beaches and the whole county suffered when they were lost.

He welcomed the additional resources being allocated, and noted how Old Head's results were moving in the right direction.

Councillor Martin McLoughlin said Westport, as a tourist destination, had been badly hit with the lose of status on four beaches. That the nearest Blue Flag beach was in Mulranny was unacceptable and they had to try and get them back.

Mr. Keating said he would expect to see Clare Island and Carrowmore back within two seasons and he felt another year would get Old Head very close.

Bertra was more difficult to pinpoint but actions are being taken and resources applied.