Keel Beach on Co Mayo's Achill Island has been awarded a Blue Flag for the 37th year in a row.Ireland's Content Pool
Ireland has 89 Blue Flag Beaches - a new record - and ten Blue Flag Marinas in 2025, An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, announced this week.
An Taisce is responsible for the operation of the Blue Flag programme in Ireland on behalf of the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE).
Ireland's Blue Flag programme is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
The Blue Flag, one of the world’s most recognised environmental awards, originated in France in 1985 and was launched as an international programme as part of the "European Year of the Environment" in 1987.
The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas, and eco-tourism boats around the world.
In 1988, the first year sites were awarded outside of France, 19 beaches and two marinas received the Blue Flag in Ireland.
Nearly 40 years later, Ireland has been awarded 89 Blue Flag beaches and ten Blue Flag marinas for the 2025 season.
The 89 Irish beaches and 10 marinas that have achieved the Blue Fla accolade must adhere to specific criteria related to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety, and site management for the duration of the bathing season.
Among the notable inclusions this year, Céibh an Spidéal in Co Galway has been awarded a Blue Flag for the first time since 2012.
Keel Beach on Achill Island in Co Mayo has been awarded a Blue Flag for the 37th consecutive year - the beach has retained its Blue Flag status each season since it was first awarded in 1989.
Three other beaches have been awarded a Blue Flag in 37 non-consecutive seasons - Clonea in Waterford, Banna in Co Kerry, and Ballyheigue in Co Kerry.
With 15, Co Kerry has the most Blue Flags in Ireland in 2025. 14 of these are managed by Kerry County Council, and one, Portmagee Seasonal Pontoons, is managed by Kilrush Maritime Ltd.
The Local Authorities with the most Blue Flag awarded sites are Kerry County Council and Donegal County Council - both have been awarded 14 Blue Flags in 2025.
Read on to see Ireland's Blue Flag Beaches and Marinas for 2025.
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Ireland's Blue Flag Beaches and Marinas for 2025
Co Clare
- Ballycuggeran (Killaloe)
- Cappagh Pier
- Fanore
- Kilkee
- Kilrush Marina
- Lahinch
- Mountshannon
- Spanish Point
- White Strand Doonbeg
- White Strand Miltown Malbay
Lahinch Seafront, Co Clare. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Co Cork
- Barley Cove
- Fountainstown
- Garretstown
- Garrylucas
- Inchydoney East Beach
- Inchydoney West Beach
- Kinsale Yacht Club
- Owenahincha
- Redbarn Beach
- The Royal Cork Yacht Club
- Tragumna
- Youghal Claycastle
- Youghal Front Strand
Inchydoney, Co Cork. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Co Donegal
- Bundoran
- Carrickfinn
- Culdaff
- Downings
- Fintra
- Greencastle Marina
- Killahoey
- Magherawarden (Portsalon)
- Marblehill
- Murvagh
- Portnoo/Narin
- Rathmullan Marina
- Rossnowlagh
- Stroove
Rossnowlagh Beach, Co Donegla. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Co Dublin
- Donabate, Balcarrick Beach
- Portmarnock/Velvet Strand
- Killiney
- Seapoint
Velvet Strand, Portmarnock, Co Dublin. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Co Galway
- An Trá Mhór (Inverin)
- Céibh an Spidéal
- Cill Mhuirbhigh (Aran)
- Loughrea Lake
- Portumna
- Salthill
- Silverstrand
- Trá an Dóilin (An Cheathrú Rua)
- Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach)
- Traught
Salthill, Co Galway. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Co Kerry
- Ballinskelligs
- Ballybunion North
- Ballybunion South
- Ballyheigue
- Banna
- Derrynane
- Fenit
- Fenit Marina
- Inch
- Kells
- Magherabeg
- Portmagee Seasonal Pontoons
- Rossbeigh
- Ventry
- White Strand Caherciveen
Derrynane Beach, Caherdaniel, Co Kerry. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Co Louth
- Clogherhead
- Port/Lurganboy
- Shellinghill/Templetown
Co Mayo
- Bertra
- Clare Island
- Dooega
- Elly Bay
- Keel
- Keem
- Mullaghroe
- Mulranny
- Old Head
- Ross Killala
- Silverstrand Dugort
Keel Beach, Achill Island, Co Mayo. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Co Meath
- Bettystown
Bettystown, Co Meath. (RollingNews.ie)
Co Sligo
- Enniscrone
- Rosses Point
Enniscrone, Co Sligo. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Co Waterford
- Ardmore
- Clonea
- Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East
- Tramore
Tramore, Co Waterford. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Co Westmeath
- Quigley's Marina
Co Wexford
- Ballinesker Beach
- Ballymoney North Beach
- Carne
- Curracloe
- Kilmore Quay Marina
- Morriscastle
- New Ross Marina
- Rosslare
Curracloe, Co Wexford. (Getty Images)
Co Wicklow
- Brittas Bay North Beach
- Brittas Bay South Beach
- Greystones
Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow. (Ireland's Content Pool)