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Banna Beach has retained its Blue Flag. Photo by Dermot Crean.
KERRY tops the list of counties with the most Blue Flag beaches in the country.
Kerry retained all its 14 Blue Flags for Ballybunion North, Ballybunion South, Ballinskelligs, Ballyheigue, Banna, Derrynane, Fenit, Fenit Marina, Inch, Kells, Magherabeg, Rossbeigh, Ventry, and White Strand, Caherciveen.
Four Green Coast awards have also been announced for Béal Bán, Castlegregory, Littor and Ballinskelligs.
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The Cathaoirleach of Kerry County Council, Cllr John Sheahan has warmly welcomed the news. “Blue Flags are an important indicator of the quality of our beach environment and it is encouraging that Kerry is continuing to set a very high standard in this regard. To retain all 14 Blue Flags and to hold the highest number of flags in the country is really positive news for the local economy and our tourism industry.”
‘These flags are a result of a collaborative approach between Kerry County Council, local community groups and beach users who work together to maintain our beautiful beaches and bathing waters. Kerry County Council invests tremendous effort in working to keep County Kerry at the top of the Blue Flag Awards Programme, and will continue to invest the necessary resources to ensure the sustainable management of the magnificent beaches along the Kerry coast,” he said.
As beaches become busier over the coming months, Kerry County Council asks all beach users to ensure they leave no litter on the beaches of Kerry or damage the wonderful coastal areas in any way so that the county can maintain and improve on its Blue Flag complement.
There were 83 beaches and seven marinas awarded Blue Flags by An Taisce today, an increase of two since 2017.
Donegal has 13 Blue Flags, followed by Mayo with 12. The counties with the fewest flags are Sligo with one and Dublin with two.
