By Sean ORiordan

Friday, August 24, 2012

Confusion reigned yesterday as lifeguards warned swimmers not to bathe at seven beaches in Co Cork, despite test results showing they were within permissible EU levels for the bacteria E.coli.

Cork County Council published the results shortly after 10am yesterday showing that all seven beaches were considerably below the permitted EU level of 2,000 E.coli particles per 100ml of water.

However, as a delighted Mayor of County Cork, Cllr Barbara Murray, went for a dip in her hometown of Youghal, lifeguards rushed over to prevent herself and some companions from swimming at the Front Strand.

Cllr Murray said shed seen the test results and carried on regardless. "The results speak for themselves," she said.

The mayor said she wanted to show people it was now safe to bathe at the towns Front Strand, which had the countys second highest E.coli reading when tested last week.

Similar confusion occurred at the towns remaining Blue Flag beach at Redbarn.

Quality Hotel general manager Alan McEnery directed his guests to go swimming across the bay in Ardmore, Co Waterford, after E.coli at Redbarn exceeded acceptable levels last week. He said he was "absolutely delighted" to tell them yesterday morning that Redbarn was safe again.

"We were telling our customers that the water was fine. But no Blue Flag had been put up and then lifeguards were telling people not to go in," he said.

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Confusion as beaches declared to be safe