Businesses in Youghal have said the recent E.coli warnings about their beaches has not affected the summer trade.
The seaside town is very popular with holidaymakers particularly those from Cork city.
While seven beaches across the county have recorded high levels of E.coli, Youghal has been particularly affected with three of the town’s beaches recording elevated levels.
The town’s Front Strand had the highest level; almost four times what is allowed under EU regulations.
Despite the excellent weather yesterday beachgoers stayed out of the water following the advice from the County Council.
Lifeguards at the town’s Front Strand, Claycastle and Redbarn beaches were flying red flags and warning swimmers of the dangers.
One regular visitor to Claycastle beach said they had never seen it so quiet.
However businesses in the town said the council warnings did not seem to be affecting trade.
Michael Farrell and Séamus Curran both run popular bars in the town and said they hoped the E.coli issue wouldill be resolved as soon as possible, but said the town had enough events to keep visitors entertained.
“I have never heard of the beach being shut down before. It is a pity because Youghal always had good water quality,” Mr Farrell said.
“Thankfully there is always something on in the town whether it is a festival or extra entertainment,” he added.
In west Cork, the quiet and small beach of Coolmaine near the village of Kilbrittain, which is usually used by local surfers, walkers and swimmers had the second highest reading of the bacteria in the county. At a level of 4,106, it was more than double the safe limit of 2,000 faecal coliforms in 100 mls of water.
Eileen Kenny, who lives near the beach, said E.coli is just the latest problem at that beach.
“I always swam in Coolmaine as a child, but my children, aged eight and 10 have never swam there. For the past 10 years or so we’ve had algae, white scum and raw sewage coming into Coolmaine. It’s disgusting. The E.coli is an added problem. We’d normally swim in Garretstown, but we can’t even go there now,” said Eileen.
Another local said: “One day last week the sea was brown in Coolmaine. It was awful.”
The Blue Flag beach at Garretstown has also been closed to bathers which is a body blow for those who use it.
Recognised as one of the best surfing beaches in Cork levels of E.colil at Garretswown reached 2,909, almost 1,000 over the recommended level.
See www.bathingwater.ie.