Old Head beach regains Blue Flag after eleven year absence

The International Blue Flag will fly over Old Head beach this summer for the first time in over a decade after it was announced that the popular Louisburgh beach has regained its Blue Flag status.

Old Head beach along with Bertra beach and Clare Island beach were named among the 12 beaches in Mayo to be recipients of the International Blue Flags announced by An Taisce at a ceremony in Dublin this afternoon.

Old Head beach near Louisburgh is one of the most popular beaches in Co Mayo but it lost its Blue Flag status in 2012 due to water-quality issues.

The Blue Flag has become an internationally recognised symbol of high standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety.

There was further good news for Mayo beaches when it was also announced that Bertra beach and Clare Island beach regained their Blue Flag status but Carrowmore beach near Louisburgh was unsuccessful. Water quality issues were cited in 2022 for these beaches not meeting the strict criteria to be awarded with a Blue Flag.

In 2022, only nine beaches in Co Mayo were awarded with Blue Flags and those nine beaches have again successfully retained their status.

Five of the 12 Blue Flags are on Achill Island - Keel, Keem, Golden Strand, Dooega and Dugort - while the remaining Blue Flag beaches are Mulranny, Elly Bay and Mullaghroe, both in Belmullet and Ross beach in Killala.

Kerry is again the county with the most Blue Flags in 2023 with 15.

Six Mayo beaches were awarded National Green Coast Awards for 2023 with Carrowniskey beach near Louisburgh receiving the award for the first time since 2019.

The other beaches to receive the award are Srah beach, Rinroe, Cross, Termon beach and Tránaun on Inishturk.

The Green Coast Award is to recognise beaches of high environmental quality and to achieve the award, beaches must have excellent water quality and have effective and appropriate management to ensure the protection of the natural environment.

Nationally total of159 Blue Flag awards, an increase of two awards compared to 2022, were presented by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Mr Darragh O’Brien, TD, at an awards ceremony held on the Shoreline Hotel, overlooking Donabate's Balcarrick Blue Flag beach in Co Dublin.