Environment « Thurles Information

High Bathing Water Quality Maintained In 2025.

Bathing water quality remained high in 2025, with 98 per cent of sites (150 of 153) meeting or exceeding the minimum required standard.
120 bathing sites (78%) were classified as ‘Excellent’, down slightly from 122 in 2024.
Just one bathing water in Ireland is now classified as ‘Poor’, down from two in 2024.
Heavy rainfall events are becoming more frequent during the bathing season, with an increased risk of contamination from wastewater, urban and agricultural sources.
Local authorities must urgently adopt climate‑resilient approaches to managing the pressures affecting bathing water quality.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has today published the Bathing Water Quality in Ireland report for 2025 which shows that water quality at most of Ireland’s bathing waters was of a high standard. 78% of bathing sites have ‘Excellent’ water quality while 98 per cent meet or exceed the minimum standard of ‘Sufficient’.

Incidents arising from urban wastewater were the most frequently reported cause of bathing water issues by local authorities, leading to temporary beach closures and restrictions throughout the season. Runoff from agricultural land, dog fouling and misconnections (where wastewater from homes or businesses is wrongly connected to rainwater drains) also contributed to bathing water quality issues.

Intense rainfall events occurred more frequently and across the entire bathing season in 2025, resulting in increased runoff from multiple sources. The number of bathing water warnings, issued prior to heavy rainfall and designed to protect bather’s health, nearly doubled in 2025.

Commenting on the report, Roni Hawe, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment, said: “We are pleased to report that bathing waters continued to achieve a high standard of quality nationally in 2025. However, the greater frequency of heavy rainfall events throughout the bathing season highlights an increased risk to people’s health when swimming after heavy rainfall. These conditions can result in short‑term pollution which must be effectively managed if current high standards are to be maintained into the future. Local authorities need to strengthen their understanding of rainfall‑related pressures and put appropriate, climate-resilient measures in place to protect bather health”.

The ‘Poor’ classification at Dún Laoghaire Baths (Co. Dublin) was caused by wastewater overflows and dog fouling. Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council have produced a management plan which outlines actions to manage pressures and improve bathing water quality at this location. Targeted actions by Uisce Eireann and the local authorities at Lady’s Bay, Buncrana (Co. Donegal) and Sandymount Strand (Co. Dublin) has led to improvements in bathing water quality for 2025. Actions included investigation of pollution sources and upgrades to wastewater infrastructure at these two locations.

Two new bathing waters were officially identified in 2025: Belmullet Tidal Pool (Co. Mayo) and Dún Laoghaire Baths (Co. Dublin). Dún Laoghaire Baths received its first classification in 2025, while Belmullet Tidal Pool requires at least one more season of sampling before classification can be assigned.

The report Bathing Water Quality in Ireland 2025 is now available on the EPA website, HERE.

Throughout the bathing water season (1st June to 15th September), water quality information and details of any incidents affecting bathing waters are displayed on the www.beaches.ie website. Some local authorities also carry out water quality monitoring outside the Bathing water season and where available, these data are also shared on beaches.ie for information purposes.

Swimmers should always check www.beaches.ie, and the signage at the beach, for the latest water quality information. Swimmers should remember to follow the 48 hour rule which is to avoid contact with open water for at least 48 hours after heavy rainfall to protect health.

Annual Review 2026 – Electricity.

Electricity emissions fell as the national grid became coal-free in June 2025 and net electricity imports continued to rise. However, with limited additional renewable capacity being added this leaves Ireland unnecessarily dependent on imported fossil fuels and exposed to global energy shocks, Climate Change Advisory Council Annual Review reveals.

Ongoing instability in global energy markets continues to expose Ireland to fossil fuel price volatility and supply risks. This reinforces the importance and urgency of Government delivering on their Programme for Government commitment to end Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels, by accelerating the transition to secure, domestically generated renewable electricity.

The Council warns that Ireland’s electricity system is failing to keep pace with the energy transition. Around 10% of available renewable electricity could not be used last year due to grid constraints and curtailment, the highest rate since records began in 2016. In addition, just 0.8GW of new wind and solar capacity was added, far below the approximately 2GW now needed every year to meet 2030 Climate Action Plan targets. The Council warns that this slow pace of renewable delivery and grid reinforcement is leaving Ireland unnecessarily dependent on imported fossil fuels and exposed to global energy shocks, including market volatility linked to conflict in the Middle East.

The Council is calling for urgent action to accelerate renewable electricity delivery, particularly onshore wind and solar. It says the Critical Infrastructure Bill must designate electricity grid reinforcement projects for prioritised delivery – with clear timelines, accountability and transparency – and must not remove the climate obligations that apply to all public bodies under Irish law. The Council also says Regional Renewable Energy Strategies, which translate national targets into county-level plans, must be adopted by the end of 2026.

Ireland now has the highest household electricity prices in the European Union with 319,000 households in arrears on their electricity bills. This underlines the need for targeted energy supports for households most exposed to energy poverty, rather than relying on broad subsidies that do not address the underlying causes of high energy costs.

Although early data indicates that electricity emissions fell by approximately 8.9% in 2025, the Review finds that the underlying risks remain significant. Net electricity imports accounted for 17.3% of supply in 2025, while data centre electricity demand has grown from 5% to more than 20% since 2015.

Renewable electricity is already helping to protect Irish households and businesses by reducing wholesale electricity prices. In 2025, Ireland had the second highest prices in Western Europe. However, prices in March 2026 fell to an average of €94/MWh on the days with the most wind energy and doubling to €179/MWh when the system was forced to rely on expensive imported fossil fuels. These figures show the direct link between renewable electricity, energy affordability and fossil fuel dependence. Strengthening Ireland’s electricity infrastructure and accelerating renewable energy delivery are essential to reducing wasted renewable electricity and tackling the underlying causes of high and volatile energy costs.

The report also warns that Ireland’s electricity system must be better prepared for extreme weather. Storm Éowyn left 768,000 customers without power – with some homes off the grid for 18 days – and triggered failures across water supply, telecommunications and health services. The Council says electricity resilience must now be treated as a core element of national climate adaptation planning, with investment in backup power solutions and electricity infrastructure needed to ensure the Electricity sector can better withstand future extreme weather events.

Mr Alex White, Chairperson of the Climate Change Advisory Council, said: “We know renewable energy helps to reduce wholesale electricity prices, but Irish households and businesses will not feel the full benefit unless we build the grid, storage and capacity needed to use that power. Every year of delay leaves Ireland more exposed to imported fossil fuels, volatile global markets and avoidable costs.
Storm Éowyn showed how vulnerable our electricity system, essential services and communities remain to extreme weather. Electricity resilience must be central to national climate adaptation planning, with clear responsibility, investment and delivery.”
The Government has set the right ambition to end Ireland’s reliance on fossil fuels. The test now is delivery. Critical grid projects must be prioritised, renewable planning must be accelerated, and the benefits of clean electricity must reach Irish households and business to ensure energy security and affordability for all.”

EPA Predicts Significant Challenges In Meeting 2030 Recycling Targets.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has yesterday published its waste forecasts providing a future outlook of waste generation and recycling trends for municipal and packaging wastes. The forecasting models provide estimates ahead of the availability of finalised statistics.

The forecasts indicate that waste generation is expected to continue to grow across municipal waste, from households and businesses and packaging waste streams. Recycling rates for municipal wastes are forecast to remain largely stagnant and lag behind the EU average. Packaging waste recycling rates are projected to increase modestly, however the increases are not expected to be sufficient to meet future targets.

Looking ahead, the 2030 targets appear challenging based on current waste generation and recycling trends. Reducing waste generation levels is critical, but increased recycling rates will also be needed.

To meet the 2030 municipal waste recycling target of 60 per cent will require an additional 500,000 tonnes of recycling, highlighting the scale of the challenge ahead.

Mr David Flynn, Director of the EPA’s Office of Environmental Sustainability, said: “While recycling rates for packaging are improving, these gains are eroded by continued growth in waste generation. The priority now is to implement policy measures in the Government’s Whole of Government Circular Economy Strategy, delivering the practical circular economy solutions to incentivise waste prevention and better material recovery along the full supply chain.”

The EPA will continue to update and refine these forecasts as verified waste data becomes available.

Further information on the packaging waste forecasts is available on the EPA website.

Long Grass, Ticks and “No Mow May” – So Can Biodiversity & Public Health Coexist?

Every spring, Ireland is encouraged to embrace “No Mow May”, the growing environmental campaign that asks homeowners, schools and local authorities to leave grass uncut in support of bees, pollinators and biodiversity. Wildflowers bloom, insects return and urban spaces become noticeably greener.

At the very same time, however, the HSE is issuing renewed warnings about Lyme disease and the dangers posed by ticks hiding in long grass. This has created an increasingly important conversation; how do we balance environmental goals with public health concerns?

Why the HSE Is Raising Concern.
According to the HSE and the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, ticks are active from spring through autumn and are commonly found in grassy, damp and shaded environments. They are present in both rural and urban Ireland and become more active during the warmer months.
The concern is not simply the tick bite itself, but the possibility of Lyme disease, an infection transmitted through infected ticks. The HSE says “several hundred” cases of milder Lyme disease likely occur annually in Ireland, while more serious neurological forms are reported in smaller numbers each year.
Health officials are particularly advising people to take care in areas of long vegetation. HSE guidance specifically recommends that walkers “keep to footpaths and avoid long grass” where possible.

The Environmental Argument for No Mow May.
Supporters of No Mow May argue that Ireland’s obsession with closely trimmed lawns has come at a cost to biodiversity. Allowing grass to grow naturally for even a few weeks provides habitat and food sources for bees, butterflies and pollinating insects, whose populations have been under pressure for years.
Longer grass also improves soil quality, supports carbon capture and creates more resilient urban ecosystems. In many areas, wildflower meadows have become symbols of climate awareness and environmental responsibility.
For environmental groups, reducing mowing is not about neglect. It is about rethinking how public and private green spaces are managed.

Where the Two Issues Collide.
The difficulty is that ticks thrive in many of the same environments promoted by rewilding initiatives. Long grass, woodland edges, scrub areas and damp vegetation provide ideal habitats for ticks waiting to attach themselves to animals or humans passing by.
That does not mean every unmown lawn becomes dangerous, nor does it mean biodiversity projects should end. But public health experts increasingly believe unmanaged growth in heavily used public areas can unintentionally increase exposure risks.
This debate is becoming more relevant as warmer temperatures and milder winters appear to be extending tick activity in Ireland. Climate-related research and reporting suggest tick populations may continue expanding in the years ahead.

A More Balanced Approach.
What is emerging now is a more balanced idea of “managed rewilding”.
Rather than leaving all spaces untouched, many experts favour maintaining cut pathways through parks and meadow areas, trimming grass around playgrounds and seating areas, and placing public information signs in higher-risk locations.
The message from public health officials is not to avoid nature, but to become more “tick aware”, while enjoying it.
Simple precautions remain highly effective. Wearing long trousers, using insect repellent containing DEET, checking skin and clothing after walks, especially young children, and removing ticks quickly from skin surfaces, all which significantly reduce risk.

The Bigger Conversation.
The debate around ‘No Mow May’ reflects a wider challenge modern societies now face. Environmental policies and public health policies can sometimes overlap in unexpected ways. Creating greener spaces is important. So is protecting people using those spaces.
The answer is unlikely to be found in extremes, neither cutting every patch of grass short nor abandoning management altogether. Instead, the future probably lies in smarter landscape design that supports biodiversity while still recognising genuine health risks.

Ireland’s growing awareness of Lyme disease may ultimately push councils, communities and homeowners toward a more thoughtful approach to rewilding, one where nature is encouraged, but not left entirely unmanaged.

Why Early Spring Flowers Are So Often Coloured Yellow.

All Things Bright and Beautiful.
Extract by Childrens Hymn Author:- Cecil Frances Alexander [ born in Redcross, Co. Wicklow, Ireland, 1818-1895 ].

“All things bright and beautiful, all creatures great and small,
All things wise and wonderful, the Lord God made them all.
Each little flower that opens, each little bird that sings,
He made their glowing colors, He made their tiny wings”.

**Yellow** ‘**Cytisus scoparius’** **commonly called *‘Broom’*, so-called because its long stems were often bound together and used to make brushes.**

At first glance, the dominance of yellow flowers in early spring might seem like a coincidence. In reality, it is a highly effective evolutionary strategy, shaped by the needs of plants and the behaviour of their pollinators.

Early spring presents a challenging environment for both plants and insects. Temperatures fluctuate unpredictably, with warm spells followed by sudden cold snaps and frost. Sunlight remains inconsistent, and many pollinating insects, such as bees, are only just emerging after winter dormancy.
Their energy reserves are low, and they must quickly find reliable food sources to survive. For flowering plants, this creates a narrow window of opportunity, for they must attract pollinators efficiently and stand out in a landscape that is still largely dull and colourless.

A key factor in this strategy lies in how insects perceive the world. Human vision is based on three primary colours; red, blue, and green, but many pollinators see a different spectrum. Bees, for example, are sensitive to ultraviolet (UV), blue, and green wavelengths, but they cannot perceive red in the same way humans do. Within this visual system, yellow appears especially vivid and highly detectable. It occupies a central position in the range of colours insects can see, making it one of the most noticeable signals a flower can display.

Beyond simple visibility, yellow flowers often have another advantage, they reflect ultraviolet light in distinctive patterns. While these UV markings are invisible to humans, they act as visual guides for pollinators. Sometimes referred to as “nectar guides”, these patterns effectively direct insects toward the centre of the flower, where pollen and nectar are located. This increases the efficiency of pollination, benefiting both the insect and the plant itself.

Temperature is another critical factor in early spring, and yellow flowers offer an advantage here as well. Their pigmentation and structure can help absorb and retain heat from available sunlight. In some cases, the interior of a yellow flower can be a few degrees warmer than the surrounding air. For cold, energy-depleted insects, this slight increase in temperature can make a meaningful difference. A warmer flower provides not only food but also a place to briefly conserve energy and raise body temperature, allowing insects to remain active in otherwise challenging conditions.

In addition, the broader environment, during early spring, enhances the effectiveness of yellow. The landscape is often dominated by muted tones, e.g browns, greys, and dull greens, left over from winter. Against this subdued background, bright yellow flowers create a strong visual contrast, making them even easier for pollinators to locate from a distance.

Taken together, these factors explain why yellow is so prevalent among early-blooming flowers. It is not merely an aesthetic choice, but a refined adaptation that maximises visibility, guides pollinators efficiently, and even provides a small thermal benefit. By aligning their characteristics with the sensory abilities and needs of insects, these flowers improve their chances of successful pollination at a time of year when conditions here in Ireland and elsewhere are far from ideal.