Blue flag success for our beaches
Tue, May 29, 2018
The Causeway Coast and Glens is celebrating its award winning beaches.
Following the recent Blue Flag and Seaside Awards, the Borough collected a total nine awards.
The event, organised by Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, celebrates excellence in beach facilities, environmental management and water quality.
The Mayor, Councillor Joan Baird, OBE commented on the success, saying: “These awards aim to showcase the natural beauty of our coastline and improve the overall visitor experience of incoming tourists. It is testament to the ongoing hard work and promotion of our beaches that the Causeway Coast and Glens take away nine brilliant awards. I am immensely proud that Benone Strand, Downhill Strand, Castlerock Beach, West Strand, Whiterocks Beach and Ballycastle Marina have all achieved a Blue Flag, demonstrating commitment to protecting the coastal environment, excellent water quality, safety and access for all.
“I also wish to extend congratulations to Ballycastle Beach, Portrush East Strand and Waterfoot Beach who were awarded a Seaside award. This award is the national standard for beaches across the UK. The standards required by this programme ensure visitors are guaranteed to find a clean, safe and well managed environment. With the summer season under way, it is fantastic that visitors to our area will have a quality costal experience.
Ian Humphreys, Chief Executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, said “We can turn up just about anywhere along Northern Ireland’s coastline and lough shores and know you will enjoy world beating scenery. It is thanks to the hard work of dedicated beach and marina operators, achieving prestigious awards, that our experience is matched by impressive standards for facilities, cleanliness and safety that we all want and expect. The pride they take in their work is evident for us all to see when we visit our own special places.”
Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful is an environmental charity working towards the vision of a beautiful Northern Ireland by inspiring people to take responsibility for creating a cleaner and more sustainable community.
Information on all the award winning beaches and marinas can be found at www.beachni.com or by picking up an Award Winning Beaches Leaflet from your nearest Tourist Information Centre.
Pictured celebrating the Blue Flag success of beaches in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area are Cathy Gorman, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, Donnell O’Loan, Antrim Glens Tourism, Ian Humphreys, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful, The Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Councillor Joan Baird OBE, Anna Lo MBE, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Board, Michael McConaghy, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council and Jen Firth, Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful.