Twelve Blue Flags awarded to Mayo beaches

TWELVE Mayo beaches have been awarded Blue Flag status by An Taisce.

Eight Green Coast have also been awarded to the county for the 2024 season.

The Blue Flag is an international award that recognises beach excellence and water quality.

Blue Flags were again awarded to Clare Island; Keem Beach, Achill Island; Dooega Beach, Achill Island; Dugort Beach, Achill Island; Elly Bay, Belmullet; Golden Strand, Achill Island; Keel Beach, Achill Island; Bertra Beach, Murrisk; Mullaghroe Beach, Belmullet; Mulranny Beach; Old Head, Louisburgh, and Ross Beach, Killala.

Mayo was also awarded eight Green Coast Awards - an increase of two on last year. These awards are given to beaches with excellent water quality but which may be less developed and less populated than Blue Flag beaches.

Mayo's Green Coast beaches are: Tranaun Beach, Inishturk; Cross, Louisburgh; Carrowniskey Beach; Srah Beach; Termon Beach; Cross, Erris Peninsula; Rinroe and Portacloy Beach.

Jim Horan, administrative officer, Environment, Climate Change and Agriculture at Mayo County Council, said: “The Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards are a global recognition of the high standards of Mayo beaches, and I would like to acknowledge to all our local community groups, stakeholders and other agencies for all their efforts in ensuring that our beaches continue to be maintained to the high standards required to be awarded Blue Flag and Green Coast for the 2024 bathing season. The continued partnerships and co-operation are reflected in these excellent 2024 awards.”