Irish beaches so swimpressive..

Over 75% of bathing spots are rated 'excellent. But tide of dirty issues still presenting challenges

- SHAUNA CORR

AGRICULTURE, urban waste water, dog fouling and heavy rain present the biggest challenges to Ireland's bathing water quality, says the Environmental Protection Agency.

But farmers near Lilliput, Lough Ennell in Westmeath have shown that when action is taken, even beaches rated poor for three years because of their practices can be improved.

As a result, the restriction on swimming at the beach has since been removed.

And there's more good news.

According to the latest Bathing Water in Ireland report just four of the country's 148 designated swimming spots didn't meet minimum standards in 2021.

Balbriggan, Front Strand Beach in North County Dublin, and Lady's Bay, Buncrana, Donegal were rated poor, while two new spots will have to wait to 2022 for classification. Balbriggan fell below minimum standards because of sewage pollution, while the water quality at Lady's Bay was hit by faeces from dogs, birds, and other animals as well as contaminated surface streams flowing through the town.