Two beaches in Northern Ireland and three in the Republic have failed to meet European Union bathing water standards, it was announced yesterday.
EU officials confirmed that 97.7 per cent of the beaches in Britain met the necessary standards, with 97.5 per cent of beaches in the Republic making the grade.
However, they identified Ballyholme in Co Down, Castlerock in Co Derry, Balbriggan and Skerries in Co Dublin and Dunmore East's Main Strand in Co Waterford as falling short of what was expected.
A total of 13 British beaches failed to meet European standards for microbiological contamination.
The standards were first set 28 years ago.
The latest figures put Britain sixth on the list of EU countries for clean bathing water and the Republic seventh.
Greece leads the way in Europe, with a 99.9 per cent rating for its 1,965 listed beaches.
Britain and Ireland's compliance rates were also above the EU average of 96.7 per cent.
Ireland's rating of 97.5 per cent is up from 95.1 per cent last year.