Five popular Irish beaches used regularly by swimmers failed to meet EU minimum water quality standards in 2005, with both faeces and chemical pollution found in their waters. Olivia Kelly reports.
Of the 122 Irish bathing areas tested by the European Commission, two Dublin beaches - Merrion Strand and Burrow Beach in Sutton; two Galway beaches - Clifden and Na Forbacha; and one beach in Waterford, at Ardmore, failed the mandatory pollution limits.
Standards were down on the previous year, when only three beaches - Skerries and Balbriggan in Dublin and Dunmore East in Waterford - failed to meet minimum levels. All three beaches had improved last year, with Balbriggan reaching the mandatory quality levels and Skerries and Dunmore East reaching the higher "guide value", the EU's desirable standard for bathing water quality.
Although Dublin still had two of the most polluted beaches, the commission noted a significant improvement in the number of Dublin beaches moving from the mandatory to the higher guide value. The Ringsend sewage plant, which has caused controversy since opening in June 2003 because of its emission of foul odours, was likely a "major factor" in higher standards at Dublin beaches, the commission said.
Most Irish beaches exceeded minimum standards and met the guide value, with many improving on the previous year. Donegal had the largest number of beaches with high water quality, with all of its 19 beaches reaching the guide value. Kerry and Mayo also did well, with both having 15 beaches in the higher category.
All Irish inland freshwater bathing areas achieved the minimum water quality standards, but fewer reached the guide standard than in previous years.