Murlough and Tyrella retain Blue Flag status

Murlough and Tyrella retain Blue Flag status

15 May 2024

MURLOUGH and Tyrella beaches have retained their international Blue Flag awards. 

They are among nine beaches across Northern Ireland named among this year’s winners of he prestigious awards which recognises water quality and meeting world-class safety, accessibility, cleanliness, environmental education and beach quality standards.

Cranfield beach, which is also in the Newry, Mourne and Down Council area, also won a blue flag award with local authority chairwoman, Valerie Harte, delighted with the local successes.

She said with over 100km of coastline across the council area, Blue Flag status assures visitors to Murlough, Tyrella and Cranfield beaches of high water quality standards and safe, accessible environments. 

“We are very proud of our magnificent coastline and we pleased that Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful has recognised our collective efforts in ensuring that our beaches are among the best anywhere,” she added.

The council chairman was in Newcastle last week to collect the awards during a special ceremony sponsored by the Slieve Donard Hotel.

But Northern Ireland’s success did not end with the Blue Flag as a further six beaches received seaside awards ensuring visitors are guaranteed to find a clean, safe, attractive, and well-managed coastal stretch.? 

Keep NI Beautiful chief executive,  Dr Ian Humphreys, said the organisation is “incredibly pleased” to see so many local beaches and marinas tasting success in this year’s awards.

“Each flag shows the public that these are sites worth visiting and cherishing. Keeping our beaches tidy is essential to our environmental and economic future,” he said.

“I want to thank the many workers across winning sites who helped make this happen. Their work is critically important in making Northern Ireland a place with the best European beaches and marinas.”

Stormont environment minister, Andrew Muir, also expressed delight at the success of local beaches.

He added: “I’m delighted that once again so many of Northern Ireland’s beaches have received the coveted Blue Flag and Seaside Awards, and that our first-class marinas have also been recognised. 

“These awards are a testament to the hard work and dedication of those who manage our beaches. The awards let our citizens and people around the world know that Northern Ireland is open for business and that our beaches and marinas are clean, well-managed and safe to enjoy.”? 

South Down MLA Colin McGrath has welcomed the retention of the blue flag award for Tyrella beach.

“The recognition means the beach has achieved world-class standards and as we approach the new summer season, this recognition will be a tremendous complement for the tourism offering that Tyrella and the surrounding area has,” he said.

“We want to encourage as many people as possible to come to Tyrella and our Lecale coastline and avail of the absolutely stunning location and stay here.”

Mr McGrath said the Blue Flag designation illustrates that not only is Tyrella and Lecale very much open for business, but that the stunning beach location is clean, well managed and safe to enjoy. 

He added: “As we approach the arrival of the Irish Open to Royal County Down in September, having this Blue Flag Status will be incredibly beneficial as it will encourage people to come to Tyrella and enjoy a stay there.”