Bathing restrictions at Doonbeg’s Blue Flag beach have been lifted.
Whitestrand Doonbeg was closed to swimmers on Wednesday when a routine inspection found that there were elevated levels of e-coli in the water.
It came just days after the beach had been given its Blue Flag status once again and led to concern locally about the impact of the closure on the reputation on Doonbeg.
Senior Engineer in the Environment Section of Clare County Council Cyril Feeney says it was down to excessive rain in recent days:
Statement from Clare County Council
Clare County Council, on the advice of the Health Service Executive (HSE), has today lifted restrictions relating to public bathing at Whitestrand Doonbeg.
Public bathing notices indicating that swimming is prohibited at the beach were originally put in place on Wednesday (23 May 2018) due to the detection of elevated levels of bacteria (e-coli) in the bathing water.
On the advice of the HSE and following analysis of water samples taken on Wednesday and Thursday, Clare Council today announced the lifting of all restrictions relating to bathing at Whitestrand Doonbeg.
The suspected source of the e-coli is run-off from surrounding land during heavy rainfall on Sunday evening and Monday morning. Clare County Council says bathing water testing protocols will continue throughout the bathing season.
Meanwhile, lifeguard cover at Clare’s Blue Flag beaches, including Whitestrand Doonbeg, commences during the June Bank Holiday Weekend (11.00am to 7.00pm). Cover will continue on Saturdays and Sundays during the month of June. There will be full-time time cover at these locations as well as at Bishops Quarter (Ballyvaughan) and Seafield Quilty during the months of July and August, and during the first three weekends of September.
More from www.blueflagireland.org and www.cleancoasts.org.
