In Ireland, 85 beaches and nine marinas have been awarded Blue Flags ahead of the 2024 bathing season. Of the 94 locations awarded Blue Flags, 13 are in Co Kerry, 12 are in Co Donegal, 12 are in Co Mayo, 11 are in Co Cork, nine are in Co Galway, eight are located in Co Clare, five are in Co Wexford, four are in Co Dublin, three are in Co Louth, three are in Co Wicklow, two are in Co Sligo, two are in Co Waterford, and one is in Co Meath. Blue Flags, an internationally recognized accolade, are awarded to coastal locations with excellent levels of water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety, and beach management.
Derrynane Beach, Caherdaniel, Co Kerry. (Ireland's Content Pool) Sign up to IrishCentral's newsletter to stay up-to-date with everything Irish! A total of 82 of the 85 beaches awarded Blue Flag status in 2023 retained the accolade ahead of the 2024 season. Ballymoney in Co Wexford, Rush in North County Dublin, and Tramore in Co Waterford lost their titles after water quality at each location was downgraded from "excellent" to "good.
" Meanwhile, Bettystown Beach in Co Meath has been awarded Blue Flag status for the first time since 1996, while Enniscrone in Co Sligo has received a Blue Flag for the first time since 2014. An aerial view of Enniscrone Beach and Village in Co Sligo. (Ireland's Content Pool) Traught Beach in Kinvara, Co Galway regained Blue Flag status after losing its title in 2021.
Kitesurfing on Traught Beach, Kinvara, Co Galway.