An Taisce (The National Trust for Ireland) have announced the International Blue Flag and Green Coast Award recipients for 2024.
The Blue Flag is an environmental award made to beaches and marinas throughout the world that demonstrate good environmental standards and have good sanitary and safety facilities.
The awards were presented by Hildegarde Naughton TD - Government Chief Whip and Minister of State at the Department of Education - at a ceremony held in the Galway Bay Hotel.
In total there were 94 Blue Flags and 70 Green Coast Awards announced.
Blue Flag 2024
85 beaches and nine marinas have been awarded the Blue Flag for 2024, including Bettystown Beach in Meath, an area that has not received the award since 1996.
82 of the 85 beaches awarded in 2023 have retained Blue Flag status for this year's bathing season, the exceptions being: Rush South Beach in Fingal; Ballymoney North Beach in Wexford; and Tramore in Waterford.
The Blue Flag Programme requires that beaches being awarded for the upcoming season have achieved 'Excellent' bathing water quality in the most recent annual classification. Each of these three sites received a classification of 'Good', the second highest classification available based on analysis of bathing water samples over the past four bathing seasons.
Below are the List of Blue Flag Beaches in Ireland for the 2024 bathing season (June 1st to September 15th).
Clare County Council: Ballycuggeran
Clare County Council: Fanore
Clare County Council: Kilkee
Clare County Council: Lahinch
Clare County Council: Mountshannon, Lough Derg
Clare County Council: Spanish Point
Clare County Council: White Strand Doonbeg
Clare County Council: White Strand Miltown Malbay
Cork County Council: Fountainstown - also awarded a Green Coast Award for 2024
Cork County Council: Barley Cove
Cork County Council: Garretstown
Cork County Council: Garrylucas, White Strand
Cork County Council: Inchydoney East Beach - also awarded a Green Coast Award for 2024
Cork County Council: Inchydoney West Beach
Cork County Council: Owenahincha, Little Island Strand
Cork County Council Redbarn Awarded Awarded
Cork County Council Tragumna Awarded Awarded
Cork County Council Youghal, Front Strand Awarded Awarded
Cork County Council Youghal, Claycastle Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Bundoran Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Carrickfinn Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Culdaff Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Downings Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Fintra Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Killahoey Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Marble Hill Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Murvagh Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Naran Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Portsalon Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Rossnowlagh Awarded Awarded
Donegal County Council Stroove
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council: Killiney
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council: Seapoint
Fingal County Council: Balcarrick, Donabate - also awarded a Green Coast Award for 2024
Fingal County Council: Portmarnock, Velvet Strand Beach
Galway City Council: Salthill Beach - also awarded a Green Coast Award for 2024
Galway City Council: Silverstrand Beach - also awarded a Green Coast Award for 2024
Galway County Council: Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór
Galway County Council: Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) - also awarded a Green Coast Award for 2024
Galway County Council: An Trá Mór, Coill Rua, Indreabhán
Galway County Council: Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua
Galway County Council: Bathing Place at Portumna
Galway County Council: Loughrea Lake Awarded Awarded
Galway County Council: Traught Kinvara
Kerry County Council: Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs) - also awarded a Green Coast Award for 2024
Kerry County Council: Ballybunion North Beach
Kerry County Council: Ballybunion South Beach
Kerry County Council: Ballyheigue
Kerry County Council: Banna Strand
Kerry County Council: Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane)
Kerry County Council: Fenit
Kerry County Council: Fionntrá (Ventry)
Kerry County Council: Inch
Kerry County Council: Kells
Kerry County Council: Maharabeg
Kerry County Council: Rossbeigh, White Strand
Kerry County Council: White Strand, Caherciveen
Louth County Council: Clogherhead
Louth County Council: Port, Lurganboy
Louth County Council: Shelling Hill, Templetown
Mayo County Council: Clare Island, Louisburgh
Mayo County Council: Bertra
Mayo County Council: Dooega Beach, Achill Island
Mayo County Council: Dugort Beach, Achill Island
Mayo County Council: Elly Bay, Belmullet
Mayo County Council: Golden Strand, Achill Island
Mayo County Council: Keel Beach, Achill Island
Mayo County Council: Keem Beach, Achill Island
Mayo County Council: Mullaghroe Beach, Belmullet
Mayo County Council: Mulranny Beach
Mayo County Council: Old Head
Mayo County Council: Ross Beach, Killala
Meath County Council: Bettystown Beach - also awarded a Green Coast Award for 2024.
Sligo County Council: Enniscrone - also awarded a Green Coast Award for 2024.
Sligo County Council: Rosses Point Beach - also awarded a Green Coast Award for 2024
Waterford City and County Council: Ardmore Beach
Waterford City and County Council: Clonea Beach
Wexford County Council: Ballinesker
Wexford County Council: Carne
Wexford County Council: Curracloe
Wexford County Council: Morriscastle
Wexford County Council: Rosslare Strand
Wicklow County Council: Brittas Bay North Beach
Wicklow County Council: Brittas Bay South Beach
Wicklow County Council: Greystones South Beach
The List of Blue Flag Awarded Marinas in Ireland for 2024
Donegal County Council: Rathmullan Marina
Kerry County Council Fenit Marina
Kilrush Maritime Ltd: Portmagee Seasonal Visitors Pontoons
Kilrush Maritime Ltd: Kilrush Marina
Kinsale Yacht Club: Kinsale Yacht Club
Quigleys Marina: Quigleys Marina, Killinure Point
Royal Cork Yacht club: The Royal Cork Yacht Club
Wexford County Council: New Ross Marina
Wexford County Council: Kilmore Quay Marina
The Green Coast Award recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty. Green Coast Award sites are exceptional places to visit and enjoy our rich coastal heritage and diversity.
A record-breaking 70 beaches receive the Green Coast Award for the 2024 bathing season.
The List of Green Coast Award beaches in Ireland for the 2024 bathing season (June 1st to
September 15th)
Clare: Carrigaholt Beach
Clare: Ballyallia Lake
Clare: Seafield
Clare: Quilty Beach
Clare: Bishops Quarter
Cork: Ring
Cork: Ardnahinch, Shanagarry
Cork: Ballynamona Beach
Cork: Inch Strand
Cork: Fountainstown Beach - also a Blue Flag Beach
Cork: Rocky Bay
Cork: Inchydoney East - also a Blue Flag Beach
Cork: Red Strand
Cork: Sherkin Island, Silver Strand Beach
Cork: Cadogan's Strand
Cork: Ballyrisode
Cork: Galley Cove
Cork: Dooneen Pier
Cork: Garnish Beach, Lehanmore
Donegal: Dooey Beach
Donegal: Magheroarty Beach
Donegal: Drumnatinney
Donegal: Ballyheirnan
Fingal Balcarrick Beach, Donabate Also a Blue Flag Beach
Galway City: Salthill Also a Blue Flag Beach
Galway City: Silver Strand - also a Blue Flag Beach
Galway County: Trá Inis Oirr Also a Blue Flag Beach
Galway County: Trá Poll na gCaorach, Inis Oirr
Galway County: Aillebrack, Silver Hill
Galway County: Renvyle Beach (The Whitestrand)
Galway County: Dumhach Beach
Galway County: East End Bay, Inisbofin
Kerry: Waterville
Kerry: Ballinskelligs - also a Blue Flag Beach
Kerry: Béal Bán
Kerry: Castlegregory
Kerry: Littor
Louth: Seapoint Beach, Termonfeckin
Mayo: Tránaun, Inishturk
Mayo: Cross, Louisburgh
Mayo: Carrowniskey Beach
Mayo: Srah Beach
Mayo: Termon Beach
Mayo: Cross, Erris Peninsula
Mayo: Rinroe
Mayo: Portacloy
Meath: Mornington
Meath: Bettystown Beach - also a Blue Flag Beach
Sligo: Enniscrone Beach - also a Blue Flag Beach
Sligo: Dunmoran Strand
Sligo: Rosses Point - also a Blue Flag Beach
Sligo: Streedagh Beach
Waterford: Newtown Cove
Waterford: Guillamene Cove
Waterford: Kilfarrassey
Waterford: Annestown
Waterford: Ballyquin
Waterford: Curragh
Waterford: Goat Island Beach
Wexford: Cahore Point Beach
Wexford: Old Bawn Beach
Wexford: Culleton's Gap
Wexford: Rosslare Harbour Beach
Wexford: St. Helen's Bay
Wexford: Ballyhealy
Wexford: Cullenstown Strand
Wexford: Grange
Wexford: Baginbun Beach
Wexford: Booley Bay
Wicklow: Arklow South Beach
10 marinas were awarded a Blue Flag in Ireland in 2023, 9 of these have retained Blue Flag status for the coming season.
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