By Dan Walsh
Six Wexford beaches received the prestigious Blue Flag award for “high standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety.” Ballinesker, Ballymoney North Beach, Carne, Curracloe, and Morriscastle and Rosslare Strand.
In the Green Coast category, which pays particular attention to the work of local clean coasts groups, 10 Wexford recipients at Ballyhealy, Booley Bay, Cahore Point, Cullenstown Strand, Culleton’s Gap, Grange, Old Bawn Beach, and St. Helen’s Bay were commended along with Rosslare Harbour.
There was more success for Wexford in the Blue Flag Marinas section with both Kilmore Quay Marina and New Ross Marina among the ten national winners.
A total of 159 awards were presented by the Minister of State for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Darragh O’Brien TD., at an awards ceremony held on the Shoreline Hotel, Dublin.
Ms. Cathy Baxter, Director of the Environmental Education Unit of An Taisce, said; “It takes immense dedication and effort to manage a beach or marina to meet the rigorous standards set by these prestigious award programmes, and we extend our warmest congratulations to all the deserving sites that have achieved this remarkable reward.”
WexfordLocal.com 