A sizeable crowd gathered at Bettystown Beach this morning to witness the raising of a blue flag environmental award, the first in almost 30 years to be awarded to the beach, with both Bettystown and Mornington Beaches retaining their Green Coast Award as part of the International Blue Flag and National Green Coast Awards for 2024.
The Cathaoirleach of Laytown/Bettystown Municipal District, Cllr. Stephen McKee was joined by other councilors and volunteers from the local community at the flag-raising ceremony to mark these significant achievements.
The Blue Flag is an international environmental award given to beaches and marinas worldwide that demonstrate good environmental standards and have good sanitary and safety facilities. The Green Coast Award recognises excellent water quality and the efforts made by the local community to protect their natural, unspoilt environment.
Speaking at the flag-raising ceremony, the Cathaoirleach of Laytown/Bettystown Municipal District, Cllr. Stephen McKee said, “I am delighted to be here today in recognition of the huge effort that is afforded by local community groups, support agencies, and statutory bodies in the ongoing provision of the safe and well-maintained coastal areas of Bettystown and Mornington.”
Continuing Cllr. McKee added, “In the case of Bettystown and Mornington, the local community takes a keen interest in protecting the local environment. Some of the activities carried out by Bettystown Tidy Towns include coastal education sessions, marram grass planting days, and litter picking with local schools, corporate organisations, and local residents. Due to their efforts to protect these pristine locations, we can celebrate these wonderful and relaxing beaches all year round”.
The Chief Executive of Meath County Council, Kieran Kehoe emphasised the important part that volunteers from the local community have played in achieving this important milestone.
“An important aspect in the achievement of these awards is the involvement of the local volunteers who participate in community clean-ups and in cooperation with Meath County Council help manage our local beaches throughout the year. I want to take this opportunity to say a massive thank you to Bettystown Tidy Towns, the local community, and all the volunteers for all their efforts in ensuring our beaches meet the high standards required for the 2024 bathing season”.
He asked that all beach users this summer to continue to be responsible, follow guidelines, be aware of dog restrictions and to leave nothing behind on the beach except their footprints.
Today’s ceremony did not go without a hitch however as when the moment came for the flag to be raised, instead of gliding up the flagpole, it ropped to the ground. Unphased by this minor hiccup however, the assembled Councillors and officials simply held the flag between them for the official photographs.
