There’s nothing quite like a dip in the fresh Irish waters when the weather warms up a bit, and with 75% of Irish beaches classified as excellent by the Environmental Protection Agency in its annual report, you’re mostly all G.
Six beaches however, failed to meet safety standards and have been deemed unsafe to swim in, with sewage and drainage issues, septic tank discharges, and dog and seagull faeces all causes of the failures.
Three of the beaches were in Dublin, while three were in Galway.
Here’s which ones to avoid this summer:
Dublin – Merrion Strand, Loughshinny, and PortraneÂ
Galway  – Clifden, Tra na Forbacha, and Ballyloughane
RTE report that 140 beaches are regularly tested by the EPA for bugs that can cause a sick stomach, a respiratory illness, or swimmers itch.
Talking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, EPA Senior Scientific Officer Peter Webster said that there’s still 43 areas of concern from around the coastline where raw sewage is pouring into the sea.