BLUE FLAG : HOW THE BLUE FLAG PROGRAMME ’S BEAUTIFUL BLUE FLAG 30 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE WORKS The Blue Flag season for beaches in Ireland coincides with the The International Blue Flag programme is operated in Ireland bathing season which runs from the beginning of June to the by An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland with support from middle of September. The marina season extends until Decem- BLUE FLAG BEACHES the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and local ber. Each year the authority managing the or marina Government and on behalf of the Foundation for the Environ- applies for the Blue Flag award and an international jury de- ment Education (FEE). cides if the beach is eligible for the award. During the season & MARINAS inspectors assess each Blue Flag beach and marina to ensure y Ireland and 2017 In 1987, the "European Year of the Environment", the Founda- compliance with the criteria. If there are any problems they are tion for Environmental Education (FEE) presented the French reported to the authorities and either the problem is rectified or concept to the European Commission, and the Blue Flag Pro- the Blue Flag is removed. gramme was launched as one of the year’s community activ- ities.

This year the Blue Flag celebrates 30 years as an International programme. Torme Brian by Photo Bay: Keem

The Blue Flag will be awarded to more than 4,250 beaches, marinas and sustainable boating tourism operators across 47 countries in 2017.

In 1988 the first year Blue Flags were awarded in Ireland 19 beaches and 2 marinas were awarded. Since then the Blue Flag programme has grown from strength to strength with 81 beaches and 7 marinas achieving the accolade this year.

Please send on your Blue Flag beach photos to us at : [email protected] Blue Flag Ireland @blueflagireland

WHAT IS THE BLUE FLAG FOR MORE INFORMATION: SOME OF THE BEACH CRITERIA ARE: SOME OF THE MARINA CRITERIA ARE: The Blue Flag is an international voluntary eco-label for beach- es and marinas. The mission of the programme is to promote • Information about the • Facilities for the separa- • Information relating to • All buildings and equip- environmental education, implementation of safety and envi- Blue Flag must be dis- tion of recyclable waste local eco-systems and ment must be properly Ian Diamond, Coastal Awards Manager ronmental management systems and monitoring of environ- played. materials should be environmental phenom- maintained and be in An Taisce – Environmental Education Unit mental conditions to reduce the impact of human activity and • Environmental educa- available at the beach. ena must be available to compliance with national 5a Swifts Alley, Francis Street, Dublin 8 commit to partnerships and collaborative action to promote the tion activities must be • An adequate number of marina users. legislation. Tel: 01 4002210 sustainable development of tourism. Email: [email protected] offered and promoted to toilet or restroom facili- • The marina is responsi- • If the marina has boat beach users. ties must be provided. ble for offering at least repairing and washing www.blueflagireland.org The Blue Flag Award is based on compliance with criteria cov- • Information about bath- • Access to the beach by three environmental areas, no pollution must ering aspects such as: NORTHERN IRELAND ing water quality must dogs and other do- education activities to enter the sewage system, • Environmental information and education Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful be displayed. mestic animals must be the users and staff of the marina land water or the • Water Quality Tel: +44 28 9073 6920 • The beach must fully strictly controlled. marina. natural surroundings. • Safety and services Email: [email protected] comply with water • All building and beach • The marina must have • Safety precautions and • Environmental Management www.keepnorthernirelandbeautiful.org quality sampling and equipment must be an environmental policy information must be frequency requirements. properly maintained. and an environmental posted at the marina. All Blue Flags are only awarded for one season at a time. • The beach must fully • An adequate number of plan. • Facilities for disabled BLUE FLAG INTERNATIONAL For further information on these criteria please log on to: Sophie Bachet Granados, International Blue Flag comply with standards and/or lifesav- • The marina must have people should be in www.blueflagireland.org Director & requirements for wa- ing equipment must be facilities for receiving re- place. Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE) ter quality analysis. available at the beach. cyclable waste materials • A map indicating the Scandiagade 13, 2450 Copenhagen SV, • Waste disposal bins/ • At least one Blue Flag such as bottles, cans, location of the different Tel: +45 6124 8081 containers must be beach in each munici- paper, plastic, organic faculties must be posted Email: [email protected] available at the beach in pality must have access material etc. at the marina. www.blueflag.global adequate numbers and and facilities provided • Bilge water pumping fa- • The water in the marina they must be regularly for the physically disa- cilities should be present must be visually clean maintained. bled. at the marina. without any evidence • First aid equipment must • Toilet pumping facilities of pollution, e.g. oil, be available at the beach. must be present in the litter, sewage or other marina. evidence of pollution. The Blue Flag programme in Ireland is funded by the For a full list of beach criteria please check out the Blue For a full list of beach criteria please check out the Blue Flag Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Flag website www.blueflagireland.org website www.blueflagireland.org Local Government Bundoran: Photo by Linda McNulty BLUE FLAG 2017 BEACHES & MARINAS IN IRELAND & NORTHERN IRELAND REPUBLIC OF IRELAND NORTHERN IRELAND

LOUTH VENTRY 65. Golden Strand FANAD DERRY DOWNPATRICK MARINAS CARLINGFORD 33. Ventry 79. Magherwarden LIMAVADY 6. Tyrella 1. Templetown BELMULLET Portsalon 1. Magilligan (Benone) ANTRIM CASTLEGREGORY 66. Mullaghroe NEWCASTLE BALLYCASTLE CLOGHERHEAD 34. Magherabeg 67. Elly Bay CULDAFF CASTLEROCK 7. Murlough Beach 1. Ballycastle Marina 2. Port 80. Culdaff 2. Downhill 3. Clogherhead FENIT KILLALA KILKEEL DERRY 35. Fenit 68. Ross STROOVE PORTSTEWART 8. Cranfield Bay MAGHERAFELT DUBLIN 81. Stroove 3. Portstewart 2. Ballyronan Marina FINGAL ARDFERT SLIGO 4. Portmarnock 36. Banna SLIGO MARINAS ANTRIM 69. Rosses Point PORTRUSH DÚN LAOGHAIRE BALLYHEIGUE WEXFORD 4. Portrush (Mill) West RATHDOWN 37. Ballyheigue DONEGAL 1. Kilmore Quay 5. Portrush (Whiterocks) 5. Seapoint BUNDORAN Marina BALLYBUNION 70. Bundoran 2. New Ross ‘Three WICKLOW 38. Ballybunion South Sisters’ Marina GREYSTONES 39. BallybunionNorth ROSSNOWLAGH 6. Bray South Promenade 71. Rossnowlagh CORK 7. Greystones CLARE 3. Royal Cork Yacht Club South Beach 80 KILRUSH LAGHY 4. Kinsale Yacht Club 40. Cappa Pier 72. Murvagh 79 81 4 5 ARKLOW 3 KERRY 76 O O 8. Brittas Bay North 7 1 KILKEE KILLYBEGS 5. Fenit Marina 77 78 1 2 9. Brittas Bay South 41. Kilkee 73. Fintra WESTMEATH 75 WEXFORD DOONBEG NARAN 6. Killinure Point COURTOWN 42. Whitestrand 74. Naran/Portnoo Marina DERRY 10. Ballymoney North 74 ANTRIM 11. Courtown DONEGAL SPANISH POINT ANAGARY DONEGAL 43. Spanish Point 75. Carrickfinn 7. Greencastle Marina 2 MORRISCASTLE O 12. Morriscastle MILTOWN MALBAY DUNFANAGHY 73 44. Miltown Malbay 76. Killahoey 72 TYRONE CURRACLOE 77. Marblehill 71 13. Ballinesker LAHINCH 70 14. Curracloe 45. Lahinch ROSGUILL PENINSULA 78. Downings DOWN ROSSLARE BALLYVAUGHAN FERMANAGH 69 LEITRIM 15. Rosslare 46. Fanore ARMAGH 6 WATERFORD KILLALOE 67 68 SLIGO MONAGHAN 7 DUNMORE 47. Ballycuggeran 66 16. Counsellors’ Strand 65 17. Dunmore East 64 MOUNTSHANNON 8 48. Mountshannon 63 62 1 TRAMORE 60 CAVAN 61 18. Tramore MAYO 2 GALWAY 59 ROSCOMMON LOUTH PORTUMNA 3 DUNGARVAN 49. Bathing Place 57 58 LONGFORD 19. Clonea LOUGHREA MEATH CORK 50. Loughrea Lake PILMORE 20. Redbarn KINVARA WESTMEATH

6 4 51. Traught GALWAY O BALLINSPITTLE 5 21. Garrylucas GALWAY CITY 52 22. Garretstown 52. Salthill OFFALY DUBLIN 54 53 6 53. Silver Strand 55 50 KILDARE CLONAKILTY 56 51 49 7 23. Inchydoney INDREABHÁN 46 54. Trá Mhór LAOIS WICKLOW ROSSCARBERY 24. Owenahincha 45 48 AN CHEATHRÚ RUA CLARE 8 55. Trá an Dóilin 44 SKIBBEREEN 43 9 25. Tragumna 47 CILL RÓNÁIN, ARAN 42 CARLOW 56. Cill Mhuirbhigh 41 10 BARLEYCOVE 40 11 26. Barleycove TIPPERARY M AYO KILKENNY LOUISBURGH 39 LIMERICK 12 KERRY 57. Carrowmore 38 WEXFORD CAHERDANIEL 13 O 14 27. Derrynane MURRISK 37 2 34 36 58. Bertra 15 BALLINSKELLIGS 35 O 5 16 28. Ballinskelligs CLARE ISLAND 32 59. The Harbour 33 WATERFORD O 1 CAHERCIVEEN 18 17 KERRY 19 29. White Strand MULRANNY 30 31 CORK 30. Kells 60. Mulranny 29 KEY ROSSBEIGH ACHILL 20 31. Rossbeigh 61. Dooega 28 Blue Flag Beach 62. Keel O 4 3 O Blue Flag Marina INCH 63. Keem 27 O 32. Inch 64. Dugort 22 COUNTY 21 NEAREST TOWN 23 00. Beach/Marina Name 24 26 25

The Blue Flag programme in Ireland is funded by the Department of Housing, Planning, Community and Local Government