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Four beaches in Wicklow, Brittas Bay North and South beaches along with Bray South Promenade and Greystones, retained their blue flag status in 2019.
A total of 88 Blue Flags have been given to 80 beaches and 8 marinas around the country this year. The prestigious award from An Taisce, shows a beach has met strict criteria on water quality, safety, and litter.
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown secured just one flag, for Seapoint, while there there's only one Blue Flag beach in Dublin at Portmarnock.
Meanwhile Arklow South Beach has been recognized with a Green Coast Award, given to sites which have excellent water quality but which may be less developed and less populated than Blue Flag beaches.