31 years in a row for Bundoran’s Blue Flag
At a ceremony in Bray, County Wicklow on Monday (21st May), Bundoran’s Main Beach was once again awarded the Blue Flag, the award which recognises Ireland’s best beaches.
The award for Bundoran is one of 13 Blue Flags received for County Donegal with a record 90 blue flags and 59 green coast flags achieved for sites around the country.
The Blue Flag programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas and inland bathing waters around the world. The 83 Irish beaches and 7 marinas that have achieved this accolade must adhere to specific criteria related to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and site management.
The flag was presented to Bundoran Tourism Officer Shane Smyth by Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government Eoghan Murphy TD who said “Today’s high number of awards reflects the great efforts made by local authorities, An Taisce, local coastal communities and other volunteers on the ground. It also reflects well on the work being done more widely within catchments to improve water quality”.
Shane Smyth added ‘it is a great accolade for Bundoran to once again receive the Blue Flag to fly proudly above Main Beach and is a testament to the hard work put in by Donegal County Council to ensure the status is achieved year on year. I’d like to pay tribute to all of those who have helped us achieve the Blue Flag status again for Bundoran’s Main Beach for 2018 ensuring bathers have a safe and clean environment to enjoy our wonderful natural amenity – council staff, lifeguards, the tidy towns committee who organise regular beach cleans and of course our visitors who assist by taking their rubbish home with them.’
Bundoran’s Blue Flag will fly over Main Beach from Friday 1st June until September.
An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland is responsible for the operation of the Blue Flag programme in Ireland on behalf of the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE). 49 Countries operate the Blue Flag programme globally and more than 4400 sites and eco-tourism boats will be awarded in 45 countries this year.
Ends
