Beach and Marina Awards success for Causeway Coast and Glens borough

Northern Ireland’s award-winning beaches and marinas have been revealed at a ceremony at Belfast Harbour Office.

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, who manage the accreditations locally, announced 22 winning sites across 5 council areas. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is home to more than half the winning sites- earning an impressive 12 awards in total. In addition, Cushendall has been confirmed as a designated bathing water.

Other winning sites are spread across Ards and North Down; Newry, Mourne and Down; Belfast and Mid Ulster council areas.

16 sites across Northern Ireland earned the iconic Blue Flag Award- one of the world’s most recognised awards for beaches and marinas.

The ten Blue Flag winning beaches and marinas for Causeway Coast and Glens are Benone Strand (35th Blue Flag success); Downhill Strand; West Strand, Portrush; Castlerock Beach; Whiterocks Beach; East Strand, Portrush; Ballycastle Marina; Rathlin Island Marina; Coleraine Marina and Portrush Harbour and Marina.

Winning sites met international standards in criteria such as safety, accessibility, cleanliness, environmental education and, for beaches, water quality.

A further six beaches across NI received Seaside Awards, the UK’s mark of quality that ensures visitors are guaranteed to find a clean, safe, attractive, and well-managed coastal stretch. Ballycastle and Waterfoot beaches were among the sites to receive a Seaside Award.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Ciarán McQuillan said: “We are overwhelmed that these prestigious awards have been allocated to our Council area.

“With 6 blue flag beaches, 2 seaside awards, recognition for 4 harbours and marinas, and of course, Cushendall now being designated as a bathing water location, it proves once again that our Council area is one of the most scenic on our island.

“Thank you to Keep NI Beautiful for these fantastic accolades and well done to all the Council officers who work hard to keep these sites pristine for residents and visitors to Causeway Coast and Glens.”

Eric Randall, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said: “We are extremely pleased that 22 beaches and marinas are being recognised with either a Blue Flag or a Seaside Award. Northern Ireland can rightly be proud of the amazing beaches and marinas we have to enjoy. Our offering is world class, and the public can be assured of an excellent experience when they visit one of these sites.

“As we recognise these areas, we need to take steps to protect them for future generations. All parts of government and society must proactively adopt approaches that reverse the devastating impact of the climate emergency and ensure that these areas thrive into the future.”

Mayors from across councils, and beach and marina operators were invited to collect the awards.

Award-winning beaches will now have their respective flags in place for this year’s bathing season. In the event that water quality is not safe for members of the public to swim in the water, Blue Flags and Seaside Awards Flags are lowered until the water is safe to swim in.

Blue Flag Marinas, which are not designated bathing waters, fly their flags all year round.