Disappointment as Tramore beach loses Blue Flag accolade

Tramore beach has lost its Blue Flag accolade, with the water quality being demoted from 'excellent' to 'good'.

The Waterford beach is one of three that failed to retain it's Blue Flag title for 2024, along with Rush South Beach in Dublin and Ballymoney North Beach in Wexford.

The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised environmental awards. 2024 is the 37th year that beaches and marinas have been awarded here in Ireland, with 94 beaches and marinas being awarded for the 2024 season.  

The awards are designed to reflect excellent levels of water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and beach management.

The Blue Flag Programme requires that beaches being awarded for the upcoming season have achieved "excellent" bathing water quality in the most recent annual classification.

Each of the sites that lost their blue flag status received a bathing water classification of "good" - the second highest classification available, based on analysis of bathing water samples over the past four bathing seasons.

An Taisce is responsible for the operation of the Blue Flag programme in Ireland.

Globally, 48 countries operate the Blue Flag Programme and some 5,000 beaches, marinas and tourism boats will be awarded the Blue Flag this year.