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."