Bettystown beach has been given the all clear by Meath County Council for bathers to return to its waters.
The council had issued a warning earlier in the week warning people not to swim at the beach due to an increase in the levels of bacteria found in the bathing water.
However, latest results show the water samples are all clear with the council giving a commitment to continue testing the water on a regular basis to ensure it remains safe.
Those availing of the good weather in recent days have been warned not to swim at Bettystown Beach – a popular location for people in this area to visit.
Meath County Council have posted a notice on their website stating that bathers are advised not to swim at the beach due to an increase in the levels of bacteria found in a bathing water sample taken on Monday.
According to the council and the EPA:
To reduce the risk of illness, beach users should take the following precautions:
Higher levels of bacteria are usually short-lived and most bathers are unlikely to experience any illness.
For further information contact Meath County Council’s Environment Section on 046-9097200.
Cllr Niamh McGowan of Meath County Council and Cllr Finnan McCoy of Louth County Council at the soon to be named Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge
The Boyne Valley Bridge on the M1 motorway at Drogheda is set to be renamed in honour of former Irish president Mary McAleese.
The bridge will be rededicated next week as the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge, in honour of the eighth president of Ireland – who served from 1997 to 2011.
The bridge naming will be marked at a ceremony in Oldbridge Estate, Co Meath on Saturday, June 8 that will be attended by the former President and her family as well as An Taoiseach, Enda Kenny TD, and invited guests including community and political leaders from the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.
What is now to become the Mary McAleese Boyne Valley Bridge first opened to traffic 10 years ago on June 9, 2003. The decision to name the bridge in honour of former President McAleese was taken by Meath County Council and Louth County Council, the local authorities whose administrative areas the route traverses.
Cllr Finnan McCoy, Cathaoirleach, Louth County Council, said: “When she was elected President of Ireland in 1997, Mrs McAleese made ‘Building Bridges’ her theme and this was something that she brought vividly to life by reaching out to communities across Ireland who would previously have felt marginalised and excluded. Just recently, we marked the 15thanniversary of the Good Friday Agreement – a reminder that this is recent but important history.
“As a distinguished barrister and law professor with media experience, Mrs McAleese had many paths open to her but took up the challenge of public life and applied her intelligence and empathy to great positive impact through 14 years. The Presidential oath requires holders of this office to dedicate their abilities ‘to the service and welfare of the people of Ireland’ – something that Mrs McAleese certainly did. It is, therefore, fitting that she be honoured and especially so that this be done at what is an iconic bridge on the main route linking the Republic of Ireland and Northern Ireland.”
Talk of the Town 