MAYO has the State's "best beaches" while Clare has been stripped of all its former Blue Flag awards. The only Blue Flag flying in Clare this year will be at a marina, according to An Taisce.
Kerry lost five flags this year despite a strong appeal by the local authority to the European jury.
Ireland is now at odds with the European trend. A record number of continental beaches and marinas received the international environmental approval this year, yet the Republic's flags fell by six.
This was mainly due to noncompliance with the strict water quality criteria required, An Taisce said yesterday when the latest monitoring results were announced by the Minister for the Environment, Mr Howlin.
The Clare beaches which lost out are at Lahinch, White Strand (Milltown Malbay), Spanish Point and Kilkee. However, Kilrush Creek is one of two marinas decorated, the other being at Kinsale Yacht Club.
Cork was second to Mayo in the flag poll, with eight beaches Fulfilling the criteria. Galway kept seven of its flags, but Salthill cost out due to water quality. Dublin was successful with five of its seven applications, two up on last year. Sherries failed on water quality while Portrane failed for the second year due to poor beach management.
In Kerry, Ballybunion, Inch, Kells and Ballyheigue lost out on water quality while Ventry failed because of sand taking.
Waterford was awarded three flags this year at Counsellor's Strand at Dunmore East, Bonmahon and Clonea. Tramore's entry was not forwarded due to the proximity of a dump. In Sligo, all applicants Rosses Point, Mullaghmore and Enniscrone were successful.
Meath won one award, at Bettystown, while Cos Louth, Wicklow, Wexford and Westmeath all held their 1995 rate. Donegal increased its flags by one to seven, with a new entry at Culdaff.
The Blue Flag is the symbol of clean bathing water, good litter management, toilet facilities, life saving and first aid equipment and the sensitive division of recreational activities. Marinas must fulfil several requirements, including provision of waste facilities and safety regulations.
Under the scheme, local authorities in Europe are obliged to make the results of fortnightly water quality tests available to the public and notices must be posted.
Speaking at the award ceremony in Dublin yesterday, Mr Howlin said the 59 Blue Flags given to the Republic were a "symbol of success", although he was conscious of the room for further improvement in the Dublin area. He was optimistic about Dublin's future when the current proposals for upgrading sewage treatment were implemented.
Last year 98 per cent of Irish beaches had complied with the mandatory water quality standards stipulated in the EU Bathing Water Directive, and 88 per cent had complied with the guideline or aspirational values, the Minister said.
The directive was kept under review, and he intended to increase the number of beaches monitored to 124. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) would be given responsibility for compiling the samples.
