Bathing Water Profile - Rinroe Beach, Carrowtigue (2013) Bathing Water: Rinroe Beach, Carrowtigue Bathing Water Code: IEWEBWC400_0000_0100 Local Authority: Mayo County Council River Basin District: Western Monitoring Point: 80067E, 340811N 1. Profile Details: Profile Id: BWPR00213 Toilets Available: Yes Year Of Profile: 2013 Car Parking Available: Yes Year Of Identification 1996 Disabled Access: No Version Number: 1 First Aid Available: No Sensitive Area: Yes Dogs Allowed: Yes Lifesaving Facilities: Yes Figure 1: Bathing Water 2. Bathing Water Details: Map 1: Bathing Water Location & Extent Bathing Water location and Rinroe beach is just outside the village of Carratigue on the North Mayo coast. It is overlooking extent: Broadhaven Bay and south of Benwee head one of the highest cliffs in Ireland. It is one of the most scenic localities in the country and has uniqueness because of its vibrant Gaeltacht culture. The area in the North Mayo Gaeltacht and has probably the purest Irish in the county. There are a number of walking routes in the vicinity. The Carrowteige Loop walk is 10Km length and follows the cliff edges around Kilgalligan to Priosiun point. Rinroe pier is located close by and is the most significant pier in the area supporting a number of fishermen from the local villages. The child of lir sculpture is located close by and is part of the North mayo Sculpture trail. The bathing area is approximately 300m wide. The bathing water is approximately 180km² in area. This beach is a designated bathing area. Main features of the Bathing Type of Bathing Water Water: Rinroe is a sandy beach backing on to sand dunes. A fine sandy beach located close to Carrowteige village. The whole bay is of international ecological importance because of the diverse habitat types to be found in the area. The bay is internationally important for birdlife. Flora/Fauna, Riparian Zone The environs of Benwee Head, with its cliffs, arches, stacks and islands, offers some of the most dramatic coastal scenery in Ireland. These cliffs tower over Broadhaven Bay in the Atlantic Ocean and there are way-marked cliff walking trails along them. The Stags of Broadhaven (a group of four precipitous rocky islets rising to almost 100m) are located about 2 km north of Benwee Head and are a site of ornithological importance. Water Depth The medium water depth and maximum water depth within the designated bathing water would be 0.5m and 5.0m respectively depending on tides. Tidal Range The beach is Mesotidal based on information from Westport Harbour Tide Tables which is the Standard Port shown on the Irish Tide Tables. Westport Harbour is located at the south east corner of Clew Bay. Land Use Land use in the area comprises of a dune systems, behind the dunes are extensive areas of dune grassland and machair, Main features of the Bathing Water: Sensitive Area Killgalligan graveyard, In Kilgalligan graveyard which is close to the beach at Broadhaven Bay there is a large mound about which there are many stories. It has never been archaeologically investigated. The remains of the early Christian church of St. Galligan, from who this townland takes its name Galligan himself is considered to have been buried within the large cairn. Nearby is a holy well to which people come on pilgrimage on the 14th August, the Eve of St. Galligan's Feast. Rinroe pier, Shore angling at both Rinroe and Rossport, on the east side of Broadhaven Bay, have channels inviting spinning for sea trout and bass and bottom fishing for flounder. Rinroe is best on the last hour of ebbing tide and the first two hours of flood. Rossport is later, from two hours after low water until high tide. Lugworm and crab are obtainable a little way to the north at Rinroe pier and sandeel can be dug from the banks of the channel. Carrowteige loop walk, The three loop walks that have been developed in Carrowteige are amongst the best coastal walking trails anywhere in Ireland. They take the walker from Carrowteige village onto a section of the dramatic North Mayo coast that includes breath-taking sea cliffs and lovely sandy beaches. Getting to Carrowteige is an adventure in itself, start from the village of Glenamoy on the R314 between Belmullet and Ballycastle. Priosioun Children of Lir Scuplture part of the north Mayo sculpture trail The internationally renowned Spirit of Place outdoor sculpture trail centres on culturally distinct, historic, unspoiled and isolated regions. After having developed major sculpture projects throughout the world which have been highlighted by the National Geographic Society, architect Travis Price, assisted by architectural students from the Catholic University of America developed the Clann Lir sculpture in this cliff-top setting which commemorates the legend of the Children of Lir. The four children were transformed into swans by their evil stepmother Aoife and condemned to live on the waters of Ireland for 900 years, the last 300 to be spent off this beautiful coast. According to folklore they are buried on the nearby island of Inis Ghluaire. Max. number of visitor during a day in high season: 5 Approx number of visitor during the bathing season: 10 Activities available at the Swimming is common at this beach, a new years day swim takes place every year in aid of local charities Bathing Water: Contributing catchment Rinroe Beach is located overlooking Broadhaven Bay and south of Benwee head one of the highest cliffs details: in Ireland. It is about 40km north of Belmullet town and within the Western River Basin District (WRBD). Water Bodies Draining to Bathing Water There are no major water bodies draining to Rinroe Beach but minor water courses flow into the catchment, but there is no water quality data available. Topography The area comprises of a dune systems, behind the dunes are extensive areas of dune grassland and machair Monitoring point details: The grid reference for the nominal bathing water monitoring point is E 080,067 N 340,811. The precise location of the bathing water monitoring point can vary depending on tides and weather influences. Reason for selection of the The location of the bathing water monitoring point is the location where most bathers are expected to use monitoring point: the bathing water. Water quality assessment: Overall the water quality monitoring carried out at Rinroe Beach from 2004 to 2010 achieved good water quality status and complied with the EU Guide and Mandatory Values as set out in the Quality of Bathing Water Regulations, 1992 (S.I. 155 of 1992) and the EC Directive concerning the Quality of Bathing waters (76/160/EEC). Since 2011, two microbiological parameters, Escherichia coli and Intestinal entercocci are used for bathing water quality monitoring of identified bathing waters as required under the Bathing Water Quality Regulations, 2008. In 2011 the overall status of Rinroe beach was Good but In 2012 the overall status of Rinroe beach was Sufficient. All samples taken in 2013 were within the required standard of good water quality. It is expected that Rinroe Beach will continue to meet the required standard of Sufficient water quality in 2014 and subsequent years. 3. Identified Pressures: Map 2: Bathing Water Catchment 3.1 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing no risk: Description: There are a significant number of individual houses located throughout the catchment, all of which would have some form of onsite. Source: On Site Waste Water Treatment Systems Type: Septic Tank Short Term Pressure: No 3.2 Potential pressures in the catchment assessed as posing risk: Description: Sheep overgrazing the lands adjoining the beach Source: Agriculture Type: Run off from agricultural land Short Term Pressure: Yes Nature: Moderate Risk Frequency: 1/2 Times per season Duration: < 48 hours Risk Assessment Soils in the catchment are generally free draining as is indicated by the predominant soil type well Methodology: drained soils will generally permit good percolation of effluents & adequate treatment. Risk Assessment Overgrazing by sheep has caused severe damage in places. The impacts of grazing on the Results: commonage areas of this site were assessed by the Commonage Framework Planning Project in 2000. Details: Bathing water monitoring at Rinroe Beach in 2012 showed one failure ( of 7) of the guide limits for Escherichia coli. The failure occurred in August 2012. There were no corresponding failures in Intestinal enterococci which would indicate that the most probable source of the elevations is from agricultural practices. Management Measures: If heavy rain is anticipated warning notices will be erected at the beach and notification made to the EPA. 3.3 Other Risks: Assessment of the potential for proliferation N/A of cyanobacteria: Proposed management measures for N/A cyanobacteria: Assessment of the potential for proliferation N/A of macroalgae: Proposed management measures for Monitoring of the beach since it 2003 indicates that there is no significant potential for proliferation macroalgae: of Marine Phytoplankton on this beach. Assessment of the potential for proliferation Monitoring of the beach since 2003 indicates that there is no significant potential for proliferation of marine phytoplankton: of Macroalgae on this beach. Proposed management measures for marine N/A phytoplankton: Additional Information: http://maps.epa.ie/internetmapviewer/mapviewer.aspx v http://watermaps.wfdireland.ie/HydroTool/Viewer.aspx?Site=Hydro&reloadkey=tru e v http://www.bathingwater.ie/epa/current.htm v http://www.npws.ie 4 Bathing Water Status From Previous Sampling Years: 2010 2011 2012 2013 Rinroe Beach, Carrowtigue Good Good Sufficient Good 5 Contact Details: Contact: Mayo County Council Email: [email protected] Address: , Belmullet Area Office, Church Road, Belmullet, Co. Mayo Phone: 097 81004.