An Taisce (The National Trust for Ireland) has announced the International Blue Flag and Green Coast Award recipients for 2026.
A whopping 95 Blue Flags and 73 Green Coast Awards have been awarded for the year, at a ceremony hosted by Cork County Council in Mall House, Youghal, County Cork this afternoon.
Now in its 39th year in Ireland, the Blue Flag is an environmental award given to beaches and marinas throughout the world that demonstrate good environmental standards and have good sanitary and safety facilities. It was established in France in 1985, with the first awards in Ireland being bestowed in 1988.
The total awards for this year was 168, just one fewer than last year's record-breaking total. Of that, 146 beaches received awards, along with one tourism boat, and 9 marinas. On top of that, 12 beaches have received both a Blue Flag and a Green Coast Award, achieving dual award status.
It's a particularly good day to live in Co Kerry, as the Kingdom was awarded with the most Blue Flags in 2026. Cork received the most Green Coast Awards in 2026 with 13, and also came out with the highest combined number of awards with 25.
Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O'Sullivan, TD, said: "These awards are testament to the hard work of local authorities and local communities around the country to keep our coastal areas clean.
"The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised environmental awards and I’m proud to see so many Irish beaches and marinas receive this status today. Those who receive this award have demonstrated high standards around water quality, biodiversity protection and have shown strong collaboration with local tourism service providers to lead the way in sustainable coastal management".
Blue Flag Beaches for the 2025 season:
Clare County Council
Ballycuggeran
Cappagh Pier
Fanore
Kilkee
Mountshannon, Lough Derg
Spanish Point
White Strand Doonbeg
White Strand Miltown Malbay
Cork County Council
Barley Cove
Garretstown
Garrylucas, White Strand
Inchydoney East Beach
Inchydoney West Beach
Owenahincha, Little Island Strand
Redbarn Beach
Tragumna
Youghal Front Strand
Youghal, Claycastle
Donegal County Council
Bundoran
An Charraig Fhinn
Culdaff
Na Dúnaibh
Fionntrá
Trá na Cille
Cnoc an Mharmair
Murvagh
An Fhearthainn
Rossnowlagh
Stroove
Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council
Killiney
Seapoint
Fingal County Council
Donabate, Balcarrick Beach
Velvet Strand, Portmarnock
Galway City Council
Salthill Beach
Silverstrand Beach
An Trá Mór, Coill Rua, Indreabhán
Bathing Place at Portumna
Céibh an Spidéal
Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór
Loughrea Lake
Trá an Doilin, An Ceathrá Rua
Trá Inis Oírr
Traught Kinvara
Kerry County Council
Baile an Sceilg
Ballybunion North
Ballybunion South
Ballyheigue
Banna Strand
Doire Fíonáin
Fenit
Fionntrá
Inch
Na Cealla
An Machaire Beag
Rossbeigh
White Strand, Caherciveen
Louth County Council
Clogherhead
Port, Lurganboy
Templetown - Shellig Hill
Mayo County Council
Bertra Beach, Murrisk
Clare Island, Louisburgh
Dooega Beach, Acaill
Dugort Beach, Acaill
Elly Bay, Béal an Mhuirthead
Keel Beach, Acaill
Keem Beach, Acaill
Mullaghroe Beach, Béal an Mhuirthead
Mulranny Beach
Old Head
Ross Beach, Killala
Meath County Council
Bettystown
Sligo County Council
Enniscrone
Rosses Point Beach
Waterford City and County Council
Bunmahon
Clonea Beach
Tramore Beach
Wexford County Council
Ballinesker Beach
Carne
Curracloe
Duncannon
Morriscastle Beach
Rosslare Strand
Wicklow County Council
Brittas Bay North Beach
Brittas Bay South Beach
Greystones South Beach
Blue Flag Marinas for the 2026 season:
Donegal County Council - Rathmullan
Kerry County Council - Fenit marina
Kilrush Maritime - Kilrush Marina
Kilrush Maritime - Portmagee Marina
Kinsale Yacht Club - KYC
Quigleys Marina - Quigleys, Killinure Point Marina
Royal Cork Yacht Club - RCYC
Wexford County Council - Kilmore Quay Marina
Wexford County Council - New Ross Marina
Tourism boat awarded Blue Flag for the 2026 season:
Aqua Terra Boat Tours - Skellig Bounty
Green Coast Awards for the 2026 season:
Clare
Ballallia Lake
Bishop's Quarter
Carrigaholt Beach
Seafield
Quilty
Cork
Red Strand
Ardnahinch
Ballynamona
Ballyrisode
Cadogan's Strand
Dooneen Pier
Galley Cove
Garnish Beach
Inchydoney East
Oysterhaven
Ring
Rockey Bay
Silver Strand, Sherkin Island
Donegal
Bhaile Uí Thiarnáin
Dooey Beach
Droim na Tine
Machaire Uí Rabhartaigh
Portarthur
Fingal
Balcarrick, Donabate
Galway City
Salthill
Trá na gCeann
Galway County
Silver Hill/Aill Bhreac
Dumhach Beach
East End Bay Inishbofin
Rinn Mhaoile Beach
An Trá Inis Oirr
Trá Poll na gCaorach, Inis Oirr
Kerry
Baile an Sceilg
Beal Ban
An Coireán
Castlegregory
Littor
Louth
Seapoint
Mayo
Carrowniskey Beach
An Chrois, Iorras
Barr na Rinne
An tSraith Beach
Tearmann Beach
Tranaun, Inis Toirc
Cross Loisburgh
Port an Chlóidh Beach
Goldren Strand, Acaill
Meath
Bettystown
Mornington
Sligo
Enniscrone
Dunmoran Strand
Rosses Point
Streedagh
Waterford
Balyquin
Curragh
Goat Island
Guillamene Cove
Kilfarassey
Newtown Cove
Bunmahon
Clonea
Tramore
Whiting Bay
Wexford
Ballyhealy
Booley Bay
Cahore Point
Cullenstown
Grange
Rosslare Harbour
Culleton's Gap
Old Bawn Beach
Baginbun
Wicklow
Arklow South Beach
