http://www.antaisce.ie/educationRSS feeds for An Taisce's Education Unit60http://www.antaisce.ie/Others/News/tabid/334/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/65/An-Taisce-announce-115-beach-awards-for-Ireland-and-a-new-beach-awards-website-wwwbeachawardsie.aspx#Comments0http://www.antaisce.ie/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/RssComments.aspx?TabID=334&ModuleID=641&ArticleID=65http://www.antaisce.ie/DesktopModules/DnnForge%20-%20NewsArticles/Tracking/Trackback.aspx?ArticleID=65&PortalID=4&TabID=334http://www.antaisce.ie/Others/News/tabid/334/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/65/An-Taisce-announce-115-beach-awards-for-Ireland-and-a-new-beach-awards-website-wwwbeachawardsie.aspx  An Taisce have awarded 75 International Blue Flags and 40 National Green Coast Awards for 2009   An Taisce today announced the successful Blue Flag beach and Green Coast Awards recipients for 2008. The awards were presented by the Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Mr. John Gormley, T.D., and Dr. Dave Foster, Director of the recently-established Northern Ireland Environment Agency, at a joint North/South awards ceremony on Dollymount Strand in Dublin City at 12noon today.   The second year of the National Green Coast Award has seen Republic of Ireland beaches receiving 115 Beach Awards: 75 Blue Flag and 40 Green Coast Awards and Northern Ireland receiving a total of 10: 6 Blue Flag and 4 Green Coast Awards. In addition to environmental, beach management, safety and services considerations, both awards have stringent water quality criteria which must be adhered to.   Seven Green Coast Awards have been added to last year’s figures. Cork County Council has participated for the first time and has attained Green Coast Awards for Inch Strand and Red Strand in the County.   The number of Blue Flags in the Republic of Ireland has decreased by three this year to 77: 75 for beaches and 2 for marinas. Losses were due to sites failing to meet the Blue Flag Water Quality Criteria which can be attributed to heavy rainfall during the 2008 bathing season. Heavy rainfall causes increased run off and puts pressure on Waste Water Treatment Plants which has a knock-on effect on the quality of water at bathing areas.   The recipients of the An Taisce Individual Coastcare Merit Award and the Coca Cola Coastcare Group Merit Award were also announced.The Merit Awards recognise outstanding effort and or achievement by an Individual and a Coastcare Group throughout the preceding year. Group of the year for 2008/9 is Arklow Coastcare Group and the Individual of the year is Máirie O’Brien of the Portmarnock Beach Committee.   At the event An Taisce announced the introduction of a new beach awards website for Ireland. The site has information on all award beaches in the country as well as information on the awards and bathing water quality. The address is www.beachawards.ie   For further information, please contact: Patricia Oliver, Director An Taisce Education: 087 2463929 Jimmy McVeigh, Blue Flag Manager: 086 2283690; Aidan Gray, Clean Coast Manager: 087 6826934               2009 Main Points   Blue Flag Details: 83 Applications Received. 75 Beaches and 2 Marinas Awarded for 2009. Clogherhead has received its first Blue Flag Award for 11 years in 2009. Greystones has had its Blue Flag reinstated for this year. 5 Beaches (Enniscrone, Rosses Point, Magherabeg, Redbarn and Duncannon) have entered a Blue Flag pilot phase which makes them eligible for awards in 2010 if they achieve appropriate water quality and fulfil all Blue Flag Criteria during 2009. 4 beaches (Killiney, Portrane, Magherabeg and Claycastle) lost their Blue Flags because of failure to meet the very stringent Blue Flag water quality standards. Seapoint did not apply for a Blue Flag this year. International Blue Flag Awards are supported in the Republic of Ireland by the Department of Environment Heritage and Local Government. Green Coast Award Details: 40 Beaches have been awarded the Green Coast Award for 2009. This compares with 33 for 2008. 2009 is the second year that the Green Coast Award has been conducted nation-wide. The award was piloted for 5 years in the South East of the country as part of an Interreg III programme 56 applications were received for the awards. The majority of those that were unsuccessful, failed on water quality criteria, while the remainder were rejected on beach management grounds The award scheme was extended to Northern Ireland during 2009 and is administered by Tidy Northern Ireland. There will be 4 awards in Northern Ireland for 2009 The award forms one part of the two-part Clean Coast Programme the second of which is Coast Care. Coast Care encourages local community groups to get involved in the environmental management and protection of their local coastline. The programme can assist with this work by supplying materials, contacts and advice on coastal environmental issues. An Taisce are also presenting two merit awards to a group and an individual who have been influential in improving their local coastal environment: These are Arklow Coastcare Group and Máire O’Brien, Portmarnock Beach Committee. The Clean Coasts Programme is sponsored in the Republic of Ireland by the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government, Coca-Cola Bottlers Ireland and Fáilte Ireland The programme is sponsored in Northern Ireland by Coca-Cola Bottlers Northern Ireland     AWARD DETAILS FOLLOW:   2009 BLUE FLAG AWARDEES – Republic of Ireland   LOUTH – 3 FLAGS Louth County Council retains both its Blue Flags at /Templetown and Port and gained a flag for Clogherhead   DUBLIN – 1 FLAG Fingal County Council: Fingal lost the Blue Flag for Portrane. Donnabate had previously lost the Blue Flag status, as the water quality did not reach EU guideline values. Dublin City: retains the Blue Flag for Dollymount in 2009. Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council: lost the flag at Killiney and no application was submitted for Seapoint.   WICKLOW – 3 FLAGS Wicklow County Council retains flags at Brittas Bay North and Brittas Bay South. Greystones regains the Blue Flag in 2009.   WEXFORD – 4 FLAGS Wexford County Council Retained flags for 2009 at Courtown, Curracloe Morriscastle and Rosslare.   WATERFORD – 2 FLAGS Waterford County Council retained a flag for Clonea Strand. Bunmahon regained its Blue flag status while Dunmore East lost the Blue Flag as the water quality did not reach EU guideline values.   CORK – 8 FLAGS Cork County Council retains 8 flags at Garryvoe, Garretstown, Garrylucas, Inchydoney, Owenahincha, Warren, Tragumna, and Barleycove. Claycastle, Youghal lost the Blue Flag as the water quality did not reach EU guideline values.   KERRY – 12 FLAGS Kerry County Council retains 12 flags for Derrynane, Ballinskelligs, White Strand-Caherciveen, Kells, Rossbeigh, Inch, Ceann Trá, Fenit, Banna, Ballyheigue, Ballybunion North and Ballybunion South. Magherabeg lost it flag due to failing to meet Water Quality standards in 2009.   CLARE – 8 FLAGS Clare County Council receives 8 flags for Doonbeg, Cappagh, Kilkee, White Strand-Miltown Malbay, Lahinch, and Fanore. Ballycuggeran and Mountshannon - 2 freshwater bathing areas on Lough Derg also retained their Blue Flags.   GALWAY - 8 FLAGS Galway City Council retained 2 Blue Flags for Salthill and Silverstrand. Galway County Council receives 6 flags for Traught, Loughrea Lake, Trá Mhór Coill Rua, Trá an Doilín, Cill Muirbhithe and Céibh an Speideil.   MAYO – 13 FLAGS Mayo County Council retains all 13 Blue flags for Old Head, Bertra, Carrowmore, Clare Island, Mulranny, Dooega, Doogort, Keem, Keel, Golden Strand, Elly Bay, Mullaghroe, Ross.   SLIGO – 1 FLAG Sligo County Council retains one flag at Mullaghmore.   DONEGAL – 12 FLAGS Bundoran Town Council receives the flag for its beach at Bundoran. Donegal County Council receives 11 flags for Murvagh, Rossnowlagh, Fintra, Narin-Portnoo, Carrickfinn, Marble Hill, Lisfannon, Portsalon, Killahoey, Shroove and Culdaff   2009 BLUE FLAG MARINAS (2) The marinas awarded for 2009 are:   Westmeath: Killinure Point Marina, Glasson. This marina is managed by the Quigley’s and Waveline. It is located on the inner lakes of Lough Ree on the Shannon.   Wexford: Kilmore Quay Marina is operated by Wexford County Council and is our only coastal Blue Flag marina.       A full list of awards follows on the next page: Blue Flag Beaches 2009 - Republic of Ireland       CLARE (8) Galway (6)   Cappa Pier - Kilrush An Spideal Ceibh an Spideil DONEGAL (12) Kilkee Loughrea Long Point Rossnowlagh White Strand Miltown Malbay An Tra mhor Coill Rua Inverin Bundoran Fanore Ballyvaughan Cill Ronan, Aran Cill Mhuirbthe Laghy Murvagh Lahinch An Ceathrú Rua Tra an Doilin Narin-Portnoo Mountshannon Traught Kinvara Fintra Killybegs Ballycuggeran Kilaloe   Stroove Whitestrand Doonbeg GALWAY CITY (2) Anagary Carrickfinn     Marble Hill - Dunfanaghy LOUTH (3) Silverstrand Killahoey - Dunfanaghy Templetown Salthill Fanad Portsalon Port   Fahan lisfannon Clogherhead MAYO (13) Culdaff   Louisburg Carrowmore   WICKLOW (3) Louisburg Oldhead KERRY (12) Greystones South Mulranny Ballinskelligs Brittas Bay North Achill Dooega Rossbeigh Glenbeigh Brittas Bay South Achill Doogort Derrynane   Achill Keem Whitestrand/Caherciveen   Achill Keel Kells Bay Caherciveen WATERFORD (2) Achill Golden Strand Ventry Clonea Belmullet Elly Bay Ardfert Banna Bunmahon Mullaghroe Fenit   Killala Ross Ballyheigue   Murrisk Bertra Ballybunion Nth CORK (8) Clare Island The Harbour Ballybunion Sth Barleycove   Inch Tragumna Skibbereen SLIGO (1)   Owenahincha Mullaghmore Dublin City (1) The Warren   Dollymount Strand Garretstown WEXFORD (4) MARINAS (2) Garrylucas Whitesstrand Courtown Wexford Inchydoney Curracloe Kilmore Quay Garryvoe Shanagary Rosslare   Westmeath   Morriscastle Quigley’s                                                                                             Green Coasts Award                               Winners 2009     Republic of Ireland   COUNTY BEACH Cork Red Strand Cork Inch Strand DLR Sandycove Donegal Ballyhernan Donegal Drumnatinney Donegal Ladies Bay Donegal Port Arthur Donegal Rathmullan Donegal Dooey Beach Donegal Magheroarty Beach Dublin Dollymount Beach Galway City Salthill Galway City Silverstrand Galway County Aillebrack, Ballyconneely Galway County Dog’s Bay Roundstone Galway County East End Inisbofin Galway County Tra Inis Oirr Galway County Dumhach Beach Mayo Whitestrand Mayo Termon COUNTY BEACH Mayo Silverstrand Mayo Portacloy Mayo Srah Mayo Ballycastle Beach Meath Mornington Sligo Streedagh Sligo Dunmoran Strand Waterford Annestown Waterford Ballyquin Waterford Curragh Waterford Goat Island Waterford Guillamene Cove Waterford Boatstrand Beach Wexford Cullenstown Wexford Old Bawn Wexford Culleton’s Gap Wexford Ballymoney Wexford Ballinesker Wexford Cahore Beach Wicklow Arklow South Beach   International Blue Flag Press Release:   The Blue Flag Programme 2009   The International Blue Flag Jury had its annual meeting on 23 April 2009 to decide on Blue Flag candidates from Europe, Morocco, Tunisia and Canada. The International Jury decided to award the Blue Flag to 2699 beaches and 639 marinas in 34 countries in the Northern Hemisphere. For the first time the Blue Flag was awarded to beaches in Malta and Belgium-Wallonia. Belgium-Wallonia was also the first country in Blue Flag history to receive the Blue Flag without going through the pilot phase. More detailed information about the 2009 awards will be published on the Blue Flag website www.blueflag.org on June 5, 2009.   Every year, the International Blue Flag Coordination conducts a detailed evaluation of selected Blue Flag sites, focusing each time on a slightly different set of spot-check criteria, which is then presented to the International Blue Flag Jury.   This year, selected Blue Flag marina candidates were evaluated in detail to ensure compliance with the criteria concerning the hazardous waste facilities in the marina, the presence of a map indicating all required facilities and environmental education activities. Selected beach candidates were evaluated in detail to ensure the posting of information concerning the presence of a map indicating all required facilities, environmental education activities and compliance with the water quality criterion regarding limit values and sampling frequency. Also evaluated this year was the presence of the common information board, the composition of the national juries, the outcome of control visits in 2008 and the planning of control visits for 2009. The Jury also re-evaluated dispensations cases from 2008, complaints from 2008 and special dispensation cases for 2009.   At the next International Jury meeting in September 2009, the outcome of the evaluation of Blue Flag candidate beaches and marinas from South Africa, the countries of the Caribbean, Brazil and New Zealand will be presented.   The International Jury is composed of representatives from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), International Lifesaving Federation (ILS), European Union for Coastal Conservation (EUCC), the World Conservation Union (IUCN), an Environmental Education expert, the International Council of Marine Industry Associations (ICOMIA) and the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE).   The Blue Flag highly appreciates the good cooperation with our sponsors and is pleased to announce the new collaboration with Corona Extra – Save the Beach campaign (www.coronasavethebeach.org/).   The campaign is focusing on endangered beaches and the Blue Flag is looking forward to a fruitful alliance. ***** FEE - Foundation for Environmental Education is a network of national non-governmental and non-profit organisations representing 58 countries worldwide that are promoting environmental education. Each national member organisation is responsible for undertaking the FEE programmes (Blue Flag, Eco-Schools, Young Reporters for the Environment, Learning about Forests and Green Key) on the national level. More information about FEE and the FEE programmes can be found at www.feeinternational.org.   ENDS     hostWed, 03 Jun 2009 11:01:00 GMTf1397696-738c-4295-afcd-943feb885714:65