95 Irish beaches and marinas awarded prestigious 2022 Blue Flag awards
Is your favourite spot here?
They should make a movie about a beach, perhaps starring Leonardo DiCaprio. They could even set it in Ireland, given the deluge of stunning sandy escapes we have on offer across the country.
But don't take your humble JOE beach correspondent's word for it – a host of International Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards have just been handed out for 2022.
On Friday (20 May), An Taisce, the governing body of protected sites for Ireland, announced the recipients, with Minister Michael Noonan conducting a ceremony at Curracloe Beach in Wexford.
Overall, a record-breaking 95 Blue Flags and 62 Green Coasts have been awarded. 85 beaches and 10 marinas were designated with Blue Flags, up by two on last year's total.
Seven beaches not awarded in 2021 have been highlighted for the coming bathing season – Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) in Galway; Fountainstown and Youghal Front Strand in Cork; Balcarrick, Donabate and Rush, South Beach in Fingal; Ballybunnion North Beach in Kerry and Ballymoney North Beach in Wexford.
Originated in France in 1985, the Blue Flag award reflects excellence in environmental education, management, water quality, safety and services.
The full list of beaches is as follows:
# LOCAL AUTHORITY BEACH
1 Clare County Council Ballycuggeran
2 Clare County Council Cappagh Pier, Kilrush
3 Clare County Council Fanore
4 Clare County Council Kilkee
5 Clare County Council Lahinch
6 Clare County Council Mountshannon, Lough Derg
7 Clare County Council Spanish Point
8 Clare County Council White Strand Doonbeg
9 Clare County Council White Strand Miltown Malbay
10 Cork County Council Barley Cove
11 Cork County Council Fountainstown
12 Cork County Council Garretstown
13 Cork County Council Garrylucas, White Strand
14 Cork County Council Inchydoney East Beach
15 Cork County Council Inchydoney West Beach
16 Cork County Council Owenahincha, Little Island Strand
17 Cork County Council Redbarn
18 Cork County Council Tragumna
19 Cork County Council Youghal, Claycastle
20 Cork County Council Youghal, Front Strand
21 Donegal County Council Culdaff
22 Donegal County Council Bundoran
23 Donegal County Council Carrickfinn
24 Donegal County Council Downings
25 Donegal County Council Fintra
26 Donegal County Council Killahoey
27 Donegal County Council Marble Hill
28 Donegal County Council Murvagh
29 Donegal County Council Naran
30 Donegal County Council Portsalon
31 Donegal County Council Rossnowlagh
32 Donegal County Council Stroove
33 Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Killiney
34 Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Seapoint
35 Fingal County Council Balcarrick, Donabate
36 Fingal County Council Portmarnock, Velvet Strand Beach
37 Fingal County Council Rush, South Beach
38 Galway City Council Salthill Beach
39 Galway City Council Silverstrand Beach
40 Galway County Council An Trá Mór, Coill Rua, Indreabhán
41 Galway County Council Bathing Place at Portumna
42 Galway County Council Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór
43 Galway County Council Loughrea Lake
44 Galway County Council Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua
45 Galway County Council Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach)
46 Kerry County Council Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs)
47 Kerry County Council Ballybunion North Beach
48 Kerry County Council Ballybunion South Beach
49 Kerry County Council Ballyheigue
50 Kerry County Council Banna Strand
51 Kerry County Council Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane)
52 Kerry County Council Fenit
53 Kerry County Council Fionntrá (Ventry)
54 Kerry County Council Inch
55 Kerry County Council Kells
56 Kerry County Council Maharabeg
57 Kerry County Council Rossbeigh, White Strand
58 Kerry County Council White Strand, Caherciveen
59 Louth County Council Clogherhead
60 Louth County Council Port, Lurganboy
61 Louth County Council Shelling Hill/Templetown
62 Mayo County Council Dooega Beach, Achill Island
63 Mayo County Council Dugort Beach, Achill Island
64 Mayo County Council Elly Bay, Belmullet
65 Mayo County Council Golden Strand, Achill Island
66 Mayo County Council Keel Beach, Achill Island
67 Mayo County Council Keem Beach, Achill Island
68 Mayo County Council Mullaghroe Beach, Belmullet
69 Mayo County Council Mulranny Beach
70 Mayo County Council Ross Beach, Killala
71 Sligo County Council Rosses Point Beach
72 Waterford City & County Council Ardmore Beach
73 Waterford City & County Council Clonea Beach
74 Waterford City & County Council Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East
75 Waterford City & County Council Dunmore Strand, Dunmore East
76 Waterford City & County Council Tramore Beach
77 Wexford County Council Ballinesker
78 Wexford County Council Ballymoney North Beach
79 Wexford County Council Carne
80 Wexford County Council Curracloe
81 Wexford County Council Morriscastle
82 Wexford County Council Rosslare Strand
83 Wicklow County Council Bray South Promenade
84 Wicklow County Council Brittas Bay North
85 Wicklow County Council Greystones South Beach
And the list of marinas looks like this:
# County Site Name
1 Cork Kinsale Yacht Club
2 Cork The Royal Cork Yacht Club Marina
3 Clare Kilrush Marina
4 Donegal Greencastle Marina
5 Donegal Rathmullan Marina
6 Kerry Fenit Marina
7 Kerry Portmagee Seasonal Pontoon
8 Westmeath Quigley's Marina, Killinure Point
9 Wexford Kilmore Quay Marina
10 Wexford New Ross Marina
As for the Green Coast awards, the map looks like this:
"This year celebrates 35 years of the Blue Flag as an international programme and during that time the Blue Flag has become an internationally recognised symbol of high standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety," said Minister Noonan.
"I am pleased to be presenting 95 blue flags and 62 green coast awards today and want to commend the great efforts made by local authorities, An Taisce, coastal communities and volunteers for their work around the country."
