SEVEN beaches around Ireland have been found to contain water which could potentially cause illnesses in swimmers.
New statistics released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show that five of the seven beaches with "Poor" water quality are in Dublin.
Sandymount Strand, Merrion Strand, Loughshinny, Portrane and Rush South all failed to meet minimum EU standards.
Elsewhere, Ballyloughane in Galway city and Clifden in Co. Galway were also found to be of a "Poor" standard.
Ireland's 'Poor' beaches:
- Sandymount Strand, Dublin;
- Merrion Strand, Dublin;
- Loughshinny, Dublin;
- Portrane, Dublin;
- Rush South, Dublin;
- Ballyloughane, Galway;
- Clifden, Galway.
It was mostly good news however, with 132 of Ireland's 142 beaches found to be at least "Sufficient" - with 102 (71.8%) classified as "Excellent".
EPA Senior scientific officer Peter Webster emphasised that overall water quality is excellent across Ireland.
He said: "Overall we've seen quality sustained - typically about three quarters of our waters achieving the excellent standard.
"That's the same standard you'd find on beaches on the European mainland, or Lanzarote or Greece. We should be quite happy at that."
