- May 20, 2022

Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards welcomed by Minister Noonan

I welcome the announcement that a total of 156 Blue Flag and Green Coast awards were presented for beaches and marinas at 95 sites around the country.

Blue Flags

Today, a total of 95 Blue Flags have been awarded, 85 to beaches and 10 to marinas. The Blue Flag is an international award for beach excellence and is operating in Ireland by An Taisce, with support from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage since 1987. The award is presented to beaches and marinas which have excellent water quality and which achieve high standards across a wide range of other criteria including environmental education, management of the environment, safety and other services. 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. I am pleased to be presenting 95 blue flags today and want to commend the great efforts made by local authorities, An Taisce, coastal communities, and volunteers for their work around the country.

Green Coasts

61 Green Coast Awards were presented for 2022. The Green Coast Award is given to sites which have excellent water quality but which may be less developed and less populated than Blue Flag beaches. An important aspect of the Green Coast Awards is the involvement of Clean Coasts Volunteer Groups. There are now 1,860 Coast care groups with over 37,000 volunteers throughout the island.

The attainment of 61 Green Coast Awards, is extremely welcome and is a reflection of the outstanding efforts of citizen and community groups and the great work carried out by An Taisce and the Local Authorities.

Beach Information

Very useful and timely bathing water information is available to beach users on the linked websites – www.blueflagireland.org and www.beaches.ie – run by An Taisce and the Environmental Protection Agency respectively.

Blue Flag Beaches Awarded by Management Body

Clare County Council

Ballycuggeran

Clare County Council

Cappagh Pier, Kilrush

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

Barley Cove

Cork County Council

Fountainstown

Cork County Council

Garretstown

Cork County Council

Garrylucas, White Strand

Cork County Council

Inchydoney East Beach

Cork County Council

Inchydoney West Beach

Cork County Council

Owenahincha, Little Island Strand

Cork County Council

Redbarn

Cork County Council

Tragumna

Cork County Council

Youghal, Claycastle

Cork County Council

Youghal, Front Strand

Donegal County Council

Culdaff

Donegal County Council

Bundoran

Donegal County Council

Carrickfinn

Donegal County Council

Downings

Donegal County Council

Fintra

Donegal County Council

Killahoey

Donegal County Council

Marble Hill

Donegal County Council

Murvagh

Donegal County Council

Naran

Donegal County Council

Portsalon

Donegal County Council

Rossnowlagh

Donegal County Council

Stroove

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

Killiney

Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council

Seapoint

Fingal County Council

Balcarrick, Donabate

Fingal County Council

Portmarnock, Velvet Strand Beach

Fingal County Council

Rush, South Beach

Galway City Council

Salthill Beach

Galway City Council

Silverstrand Beach

Galway County Council

An Trá Mór, Coill Rua, Indreabhán

Galway County Council

Bathing Place at Portumna

Galway County Council

Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór

Galway County Council

Loughrea Lake

Galway County Council

Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua

Galway County Council

Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach)

Kerry County Council

Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs)

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

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

Ross Beach, Killala

Sligo County Council

Rosses Point Beach

Waterford City & County Council

Ardmore Beach

Waterford City & County Council

Clonea Beach

Waterford City & County Council

Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East

Waterford City & County Council

Dunmore Strand, Dunmore East

Waterford City & County Council

Tramore Beach

Wexford County Council

Ballinesker

Wexford County Council

Ballymoney North Beach

Wexford County Council

Carne

Wexford County Council

Curracloe

Wexford County Council

Morriscastle

Wexford County Council

Rosslare Strand

Wicklow County Council

Brittas Bay South

Wicklow County Council

Brittas Bay North

Wicklow County Council

Greystones South Beach

Blue Flag Marinas Awarded by Management Body

Cork

Kinsale Yacht Club

Cork

Royal Cork Yacht club

The Royal Cork Yacht Club Marina

Clare

Kilrush Maritime Ltd.

Kilrush Marina

Donegal

Donegal County Council

Greencastle Marina

Donegal

Donegal County Council and Rathmullan Charters

Rathmullan Marina

Kerry

Kerry County Council

Fenit Marina

Kerry

Kilrush Maritime Ltd.

Portmagee Seasonal Pontoon

Westmeath

Quigley's Marina

Quigley's Marina, Killinure Point

Wexford

Wexford County Council

Kilmore Quay Marina

Wexford

Wexford County Council

New Ross Marina

Green Coast Awards by County

Clare

Ballyallia Lake

Clare County Council

Ballyalla Blue Flag Working Group

Clare

Bishops Quarter

Clare County Council

Ballyvaughan Tidy Towns

Clare

Carrigaholt Beach

Clare County Council

Carrigaholt Tidy Towns and Carrigaholt Development Association

Clare

Seafield

Clare County Council

Quilty clean coast

Cork

Sherkin Island, Silver Strand Beach

Cork County Council

Sherkin Island Community Group

Cork

Ballyrisode

Cork County Council

Goleen Communtiy Group

Cork

Galley Cove

Cork County Council

Goleen Communtiy Group

Cork

Inch Strand

Cork County Council

Aghada Residents Association

Cork

Ardnahinch, Shanagarry

Cork County Council

Shanagarry Coast Care Group

Cork

Ring

Cork County Council

Ballymacoda Ladysbridge Community Council Ltd

Cork

Oysterhaven

Cork County Council

Nohoval/Oysterhave Residents Association

Cork

Rocky Bay

Cork County Council

Roberts Cove & Rocky Bay Residents Association

Cork

Dooneen Pier

Cork County Council

Sheeps Head Way Community Group

Cork

Red Strand

Cork County Council

Ardfield Tidy Towns Group

Cork

Cadogan's Strand,

Cork County Council

Schull Tidy Towns & Community Group

Cork

Garnish Beach, Lehanmore

Cork County Council

Lehanemore Community Co-op

Cork

Ballynamona Beach

Cork County Council

Ballynamona Clean Coast Group

Cork

Fountainstown Beach

Cork County Council

Fountainstown Community Association

Cork

Inchydoney East

Cork County Council

Inchydoney East Residents Association

Donegal

Drumnatinney

Donegal County Council

Drumnatinney Clean Coasts Group

Donegal

Dooey Beach

Donegal County Council

Dooey Clean Coasts Group

Donegal

Ballyheirnan

Donegal County Council

Fanad Coastal Group

Donegal

Magheroarty Beach

Donegal County Council

Ionad Pobail Mhachaire Rabhartaigh or

Fingal

Balcarrick Beach, Donabate

Fingal County Council

TBC

Galway City

Silver Strand

Galway City Council

Barna Tidy Towns

Galway City

Salthill

Galway City Council

Galway Atlantaquaria Ltd

Galway County

Aillebrack/Silver Hill

Galway County Council

Aillebrack/Silver Hill Coast Care

Galway County

Dumhach Beach

Galway County Council

Inishbofin Development Company

Galway County

Trá Poll na gCaorach, Inis Oirr

Galway County Council

Comhar Caomhán Teoranta, Inis Oírr

Galway County

East End Bay, Inisbofin

Galway County Council

Inishbofin Development Company

Galway County

Renvyle Beach (The Whitestrand)

Galway County Council

Renvyle Beach Group

Kerry

Littor

Kerry County Council

Littor Clean Coast Group

Kerry

Waterville

Kerry County Council

An Coirean Coast Care

Kerry

Ballinskelligs

Kerry County Council

Ballinskelligs Tidy Town

Kerry

Castlegregory

Kerry County Council

Castlegregory Coast Care Group

Kerry

Béal Bán

Kerry County Council

Scoil An Fheirtearaigh

Louth

Seapoint Beach, Termonfeckin

Louth County Council

Costa Alainn

Mayo

Termon Beach

Mayo County Council

Comharchumann Forbartha Ionas Deirdhile

Mayo

Srah Beach

Mayo County Council

Claggan Island RSS

Mayo

Portacloy Beach

Mayo County Council

Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teoranta, Scéim Shóisialta Tuaithe Chill Chomáin

Mayo

Rinroe

Mayo County Council

Comhar Dún Chaocháin Teoranta, Scéim Shóisialta Tuaithe Chill Chomáin (The Kilcommon Rural Social Scheme)

Mayo

Tránaun, Inishturk

Mayo County Council

TBC

Meath

Mornington

Meath County Council

Beach Management Committee

Sligo

Rosses Point

Sligo County Council

Rosses Point Development Association Tidy Towns Committee; North West Sea Kayaking Association; Sligo Surf Lifesaving Club

Sligo

Streedagh Beach

Sligo County Council

North Sligo Playground Goups

Waterford

Guillamene Cove