Bundoran is celebrating 30 years of blue flags after being awarded the prestigious flag at a ceremony in Crosshaven, County Cork last week.
Bundoran’s Main Beach was once again awarded the Blue Flag ensuring bathers a safe and clean environment in which to swim and enjoy one of the seaside town’s top free amenities. 13 Blue Flags were awarded to County Donegal again in 2017.
The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised eco-labels and only beaches that meet specific criteria relating to water quality, beach management, environmental information and safety services achieve this accolade. The Main Beach in Bundoran has been awarded the Blue Flag for each of the 30 years that the system has been in place, according to Donegal County Council.
The flag was presented by Beckey-Finn Britton, An Taisce Coastal Programmes Development Officer – Donegal, to Bundoran Tourism Officer Shane Smyth at Main Beach, Bundoran.
Bundoran Tourism Officer Shane Smyth accepts the 2017 Blue Flag from An Taisce’s Beckey-Finn Britton – pic Conor Conlon CMP Productions
Bundoran Tourism Officer Shane Smyth said ‘To achieve 30 years of the Blue Flag is a great achievement for the town and indeed for the county and all those who work to make sure that it is retained year on year. I’m delighted that once again the Main Beach has been passed fully compliant with water quality and other standards.
“It is vital that visitors to Bundoran and locals alike can be assured that they have a safe and pleasant place to bathe and to enjoy the fabulous amenities that Main Beach offers.
Bundoran beach, photo by Alison Crummy for Failte Ireland
“I’d like to pay tribute to the council workers who work year round to make sure that the beach is kept up to Blue Flag standard as well as the Tidy Towns Tús workers – without them we would not be celebrating our 30th year of having a Blue Flag.”
List of Donegal Blue Flag Beaches 2017:
Downings
Rossnowlagh
Greencastle Marina
Bundoran
Carrickfinn
Culdaff
Fintra
Killahoey
Magherawarden (Portsalon)
Marblehill
Murvagh
Portnoo /Naran
Shroove
The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised eco-labels. The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental practices and behaviours among beach and marina users. The 88 flags that have been awarded is the highest number on record for Ireland. Each beach or marina that achieved this accolade met a specific set of criteria related to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and beach management.
For more information on the Blue Flag see www.discoverbundoran.com/blueflag
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