Swimming restrictions lifted at two Galway beaches

Re-sampling results indicate Salthill bacteria levels ‘within safe standards’

Walking on the prom at  Salthill in Galway. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times
Walking on the prom at Salthill in Galway. Photograph: Cyril Byrne/The Irish Times

Galway City Council has lifted "do not swim" notices from two beaches in Salthill after further sampling.

The notices had been in place at Blackrock and Ladies’ Beach due to detection of high levels of a bacteria in sea water.

The “elevated” levels of intestinal enterococci, which can cause gastro-intestinal illness, were confirmed in samples taken on Monday.

The local authority said that re-sampling carried out on Thursday indicated that levels of both intestinal Enterococci and E-Coli are “well within safe standards”.

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins is the former western and marine correspondent of The Irish Times