A report on Blue Flag beaches in the Youghal area indicates that Claycastle and Redbarn are likely to have their Blue Flag status restored for 2010, having had them denied due to poor water and an over prevalence of seaweed respectively, last year. By Christy Parker

However, water quality at the Front Strand has been deemed unfit for Blue Flag status for another year at least. The Strand lost its Blue Flag in 2008.  Garryvoe says the report, will retain its Blue Flag for next season.

The report is based on 2009 summer monitoring. The Blue Flag Programme for beaches and marinas is administered by An Taisce and run by the Foundation for Environmental Education (FEE), an international non-governmental, non-profit organisation. The report was forwarded to Cork County Council with the addendum that An Taisce generally announces its Blue Flag recipients definitively come June.