Business owners 'hopeful' Blue Flag status will attract more visitors to Meath coastline
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Cathaoirleach of the Laytown/Bettystown MD Cllr Paddy Meade, Chief Executive of Meath County Council Kieran Kehoe, and Deputy Chief Executive of Meath County Council Fiona Lawless.Image 2 of 4
Cathaoirleach of the Laytown/Bettystown MD Cllr Paddy Meade speaking during the event.Image 3 of 4
Chief Executive of Meath County Council Kieran Kehoe speaking.Image 4 of 4
The flags raised at Bettystown Beach.A BETTYSTOWN business owner says she is "hopeful" that retention of the Blue Flag on the beach will attract more visitors to the area.
Bettystown and Mornington beaches both had success at the International Blue Flag and National Green Coast Awards last month.
The International Blue Flag and National Green Coast Awards recognise the best beaches in Ireland. Building on their successes from 2024, Bettystown Beach retained their Blue Flag Award for 2025, while both Bettystown Beach and Mornington Beach were awarded Green Coast Awards.
Last year Bettystown won the Blue Flag for the first time in 30 years
The Green Coast Award recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty. Green Coast Award sites are recognised as exceptional places to visit to enjoy rich coastal heritage and diversity.
"It's great to have the Blue Flag for the swimmers and walkers in the local area," said Marina Reddan, owner of Reddans of Bettystown, a seaside B&B, bar and restaurant.
"We need to attract more visitors so it is positive for the area," she added.
"We have had a lot of challenges due to a lack of parking in recent years so hopefully there can be some solutions to that issue so we can really make Bettystown the best it can be."
Speaking at the flag-raising ceremony, Cathaoirleach of the Laytown/Bettystown MD Cllr Paddy Meade said he was "delighted to be here today to recognise and celebrate the huge efforts of all the local community groups and volunteers who, in cooperation with Meath County Council, have ensured Bettystown and Mornington are among the top beaches in the country yet again this year."
Bettystown Beach was one of only ten beaches nationwide to receive both Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards, while Bettystown and Mornington were part of the small group of just 70 beaches nationwide to receive Green Coast Awards.
Chief Executive of Meath County Council Kieran Kehoe said: "These prestigious awards provide extra reassurance to beach goers and swimmers regarding the local environment and water quality and reaffirms our little stretch of coastline as an exceptional place to visit. I want to commend the fantastic ongoing work of local community groups and volunteers and our own dedicated Beach Wardens and team in Environment and Laytown Bettystown MD to ensure the enduring and deserved successes of Bettystown and Mornington on the national stage."