Bettystown beach receives its first ever Green Coast Award
Bettystown beach has received its first ever Green Coast Award as part of the International Blue Flag and the National Green Coast Awards for 2023.
The east Meath beach was awarded one of 65 Green Coast accolades handed out last week. The awards presented at a ceremony on Donabate beach in north Dublin by the Minister for Housing, Darragh O’Brien also saw Mornington Beach retaining its Green Flag.
Beach Management Committee Member, Cllr Sharon Tolan welcomed the award of two Green Flags for Meath beaches, by An Taisce.
"“Since banning the cars from our beaches we have seen a massive improvement across many areas. The beaches are cleaner, safer and a much friendlier environment for families and the general public to enjoy. While locals could always see the outstanding beauty of Bettystown beach, it was certainly a stretch of the imagination for jurors to see past the massive car park that the beach had become.
"We had no difficulty fulfilling the criteria this year and I have made it clear to our Environment Team and the Executive of Meath County Council that I would like to see a Blue Flag for Bettystown next year, along with Green Flags for Mornington, Laytown and Gormanston beaches. Indeed, I have asked that we extend an invitation to An Taisce to host next year’s Awards Ceremony here in our new multimillion Euro Coastal Civic Building.” Said Tolan.
Tolan went on pay tribute to the many groups and individuals that played a part in this result.
"Our Bettystown Tidy Towns, the Beach Management Committee, local schools and all the people that choose to litter pick on the beach and leave nothing but footprints.
"We have quite the challenge for next year if we are to achieve Blue Flag Status, and I am asking everyone in our community and visitors to the beach to play their part too. We must tackle the issue of dog dirt and ensure that dog walkers are picking it up and removing it from the beach. It’s an awful scourge on families with young children, joggers, walkers and swimmers who have to avoid daily incidents. We have provided plenty of bags and there are bins at all of the entrance and exit locations along all our beaches, there really is no excuse.”