Search
23 Oct 2025
Search
23 Oct 2025
Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content.
Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist.
If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider contributing and/or subscribing to our free daily Newsletter .
Support our mission and join our community now.
To continue reading this article, you can subscribe for as little as €0.50 per week which will also give you access to all of our premium content and archived articles!
Alternatively, you can pay €0.50 per article, capped at €1 per day.
Thank you for supporting Ireland's best local journalism!
Louth County Council have welcomed the news that the county has retained the Blue Flag award for 2023 for its beaches at Clogherhead, Port and Templetown, and the Green Coast award for 2023 for the beach at Seapoint, Termonfeckin.
These awards were presented by the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, Mr. Darragh O’Brien, TD, at an awards ceremony held in the Shoreline Hotel, overlooking Donabate's Balcarrick Blue Flag beach in Co.Dublin last month.
This year marks the 36th year of the International Blue Flag programme. A world renowned award trusted by millions around the globe, the Blue Flag programme is operated in Ireland by An Taisce – the National Trust for Ireland on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE). Beaches and marinas that achieve this accolade must comply with a specific set of criteria relating to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and beach management.
This year also marks the 20th anniversary of the National Green Coast programme. This award is for beaches which have excellent water quality and are also prized for their natural, unspoilt environment.
At the raising of the Blue Flag for 2023 at Templetown Beach, Joan Martin, Chief Executive of Louth County Council expressed her enthusiasm for the Blue Flag Programme, saying:
“We are immensely proud of the collaborative efforts that have led to this achievement, and Louth County Council remains steadfast in our commitment to preserving our environment for future generations”.
Conor Keelan, Cathaoirleach of Louth County Council, added:
“It is a testament to the tireless efforts of Louth County Council, coastal groups and the community to protect and enhance our coastline”.
159 awards were announced by the Minister for the 2023 season - 84 beaches and 10 marinas in Ireland received the Blue Flag Award, while 65 beaches were awarded the Green Coast Award.
Further information on the Blue Flag and Green Coast awards may be found at www.beachawards.ie
Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie
Buy the e-paper of the Donegal Democrat, Donegal People's Press, Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles.
Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm.
This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman, and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council. You can obtain a copy of the Code, or contact the Council, at www.presscouncil.ie, Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie.
