Galway Bay fm newsroom - Beaches in Galway, Cork, Dublin, Kerry and Wexford have been added to the Blue Flag Awards list.
85 beaches and 10 marinas were awarded blue flags - a record total.
Galway has received 8 Green Coast awards and 8 Blue Flags
While Traught in Kinvara has lost its long held Blue Flag, Trá Inis Oirr in the Aran Islands has been awarded a Blue Flag for the first time
Coastal Awards Manager with An Taisce, Ian Diamond, says receiving a blue flag for the first time is a major boost for local communities:
Galway's 8 Blue Flags have gone to Trá Inis Oirr as you just heard; Cill Mhuirbhigh on Inis Mór; An Trá Mór, Coill Rua in Inverin; Trá an Dóilín in Carraroe; the Bathing Place at Portumna; Loughrea Lake and in the city - Salthill Beach and Silverstrand.
Galway's 8 Green Coast awards have gone to Aillebrack/Silver Hill, Dumhach Beach and East End Bay Inishbofin, Trá Poll na gCaorach on Inis Oirr, Trá Inis Oirr, Renvyle Beach Connemara and in the city - Salthill Beach and Silverstrand.
