A TOTAL OF 94 Irish beaches and marinas have been awarded Blue Flags this year, one less when compared to last year’s all-time high.

Three beaches in County Mayo were awarded a Blue Flag; Berta, Clare Island/Louisburgh and Old Head for a total 81 of the 85 beaches receiving or retaining their blue flag for the 2023 bathing seasons.

All 10 marinas awarded last year have, once again, retained their Blue Flag status for the season.

The Blue Flag is a global award given to beaches and marinas who have met and maintained the correct environmental, educational, safety and access-related criteria. The beaches must also have an excellent standard of water.

The award is given to Irish beaches by An Taisce, a non-governmental organisation active in the areas of the environment.

Cathy Baxter, Director of the Environmental Education Unit for the NGO, said: “We were delighted to have been present on the beautiful sandy beach of Donabate, as we gathered to celebrate another remarkable year of recognition for all the sites that have been honoured with the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards for the 2023 season.

Here’s a map of the Blue Flag beaches for 2023 (click here to view a larger version of this image):

Blue Flag / An Taisce Blue Flag / An Taisce / An Taisce

The Green Coast Award was given to 65 separate locations around the country, an increase of three, which recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty. 

The number of the Green Coast Awards means a record-breaking amount of awards were given to beaches by An Taisce this year, 159 in total.

Bettystown in Co Meath received the Green Coast Award for the first time and the only beach to be a first time winner of either award this year.

Baxter said: “It takes immense dedication and effort to manage a beach or marina to meet the rigorous standards set by these prestigious award programmes, and we extend our warmest congratulations to all the deserving sites that have achieved this remarkable reward.”

The county with the highest number of Blue Flag beaches is Kerry, with a total of twelve, followed by joint-second Donegal and Mayo, who both have eleven for this year’s season.

Minister for housing, local government and heritage, Darragh O’Brien was present at the 36th annual awards this year.

At the ceremony in Donabate, Minister O’Brien said he was “pleased” to present the awards and that the record-high number of total awards was “a testeament to the hard work and dedication of the local authorities, An Taisce” and other volunteers around the country.

Last week the Environmental Protection Agency in Ireland revealed that 79% of Ireland’s 148 bathing sites had an “excellent” quality of water, while 97% had met the minimum requirements.

Only three beaches in the country had poor quality water: Front Strand Beach in Balbriggan, Dublin, Lady’s Bay in Buncrana, Donegal and Trá na mBan san Spidéal, Gaillimh.

None of the beaches received an award today.