Ireland has 85 Blue Flag beaches in 2026. Kerry has the most blue flag beaches, 13, followed by Donegal and Mayo with 11. Meanwhile, 73 Irish beaches have received the Green Coast Award, which recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality, and natural beauty.
Two beaches regained their blue flag after missing out in recent years, Duncannon in Co Wexford, and Bunmahon in Co Waterford. Whilst six beaches that were awarded the Blue Flag in 2025 have not been awarded it this year: Lahinch, Fountainstown, Magherawarden, Ardmore, Counsellors’ Strand (Dunmore East), and Ballymoney North.
Below is the list of 85 Blue Flag beaches. Click on a title to go to our beach information pages with interactive maps.
Ireland Blue Flag Awards
Clare Blue Flags
8 winners
Ballycuggeran (Lough Derg)
Kilkee
Whitestrand, Doonbeg
Mountshannon (Lough Derg)
Fanore
Spanish Point
Whitestrand, Miltown Malbay
Cappagh Pier
Cork Blue Flags
10 winners
Garrylucas
Inchydoney (east and west beaches)
Owenahincha
Barleycove
Tragumna
Youghal Claycastle
Youghal Front Strand
Redbarn
Garretstown
Donegal Blue Flags
11 winners
Bundoran
Culdaff
Fintra
Downings
Killahoey
Marblehill
Murvagh
Naran
Shroove
Rossnowlagh
Carrickfinn
Dublin Blue Flags
2 winners
Fingal
2 winners
Balcarrick
Portmarnock/Velvet Strand
Galway Blue Flags
10 winners
Loughrea Lake
Tra an Doilin (Coral Strand)
Salthill
Silverstrand
Portumna
Cill Muirbhthe
Trá Inis Oírr
An Trá Mhór (Inverin)
Céibh an Spidéal
Traught
Kerry Blue Flags
13 winners
Ballinskelligs
Ballybunion South
Ballybunion North
Ballyheigue
Banna
Derrynane
Fenit
Inch
Kells
Maherabeg
Ventry
White Strand
Rossbeigh
Louth Blue Flags
3 winners
Mayo Blue Flags
11 winners
Dooega
Mulranny
Mullaghroe
Silverstrand, Dugort
Keel
Elly Bay
Keem
Ross
Bertra
Clare Island (Louisburgh)
Old Head
Meath Blue Flags
1 winner
Sligo Blue Flags
2 winners
Waterford Blue Flags
3 winners
Clonea
Bunmahon
Tramore
Wexford Blue Flags
6 winners
Carne
Curracloe
Morriscastle
Rosslare Strand
Ballinesker
Duncannon
Wicklow Blue Flags
3 winners
Brittas Bay North
Brittas Bay South
Greystones South Beach
Blue Flag is a mark of a quality beach
The Blue Flag beach award is widely recognised as an indicator of high-quality beaches and has evolved significantly since it started in France in 1985. Most people think a Blue Flag indicates clean and safe water, but although it does, it actually measures a beach against a lot more criteria:
- Environmental Education and Information. This includes displaying details on the Blue Flag award, water quality, and a beach map showing the locations of facilities.
- Water Quality. This is about whether the water is safe to swim in. Water samples are taken at regular intervals during the bathing season, and the year gets an overall grade. Each of our beach pages gives a summary of the current water quality.
- Environmental Management. This category is about managing the beach and keeping it clean, as well as ensuring public facilities like toilets are available.
- Safety and Services. This is a big one for families with children, as a beach should be patrolled by lifeguards. Other criteria include the availability of drinking water and accessibility features.
Not having a Blue Flag does not mean a beach should be avoided, as the tough criteria described above are best suited to large seaside resorts and smaller villages, and remote bays may not offer the same level of management. This means they just don’t participate in the scheme, and local countries have their own awards to recognise some of these other beaches.
The blue flag certification process is carried out every year by local quality organisations, and for our beaches in the UK, the annual results are announced at the end of May or beginning of June.
For more information and details of the assessment criteria, visit the Blue Flag Award website.
For a full list of blue flag beaches see our list of Ireland Blue Flag Beaches.