A record 95 blue flags and 62 green coast awards have been dished out across Ireland for 2022 as the country marks 35 years of blue flag beaches.
The internationally recognised eco-label lauds high water quality, environmental management, education and safety at the spots boasting a blue flag.
Some 19 Irish beaches and two marinas won the global accolade in 1988, after its worldwide launch the previous year.
That number has steadily grown since then.
Five beaches lost their blue flag status this year due to poor water quality.
These are Bray South Promenade in Wicklow; Warren, Cregane Strand in Cork; Traught, Kinvara in Co Galway; Carrowmore and Clare Island in Co Mayo.
This year An Taisce added seven new beaches to the list that were not included in 2021.
They included Fountainstown and Youghal Front Strand in County Cork; Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) County Galway; Balcarrick,
Donabate and Rush, South Beach in Fingal; Ballybunnion North Beach in Kerry and Ballymoney North Beach, in County Wexford.
Green Coast awards recognise beaches with a clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty.
Four beaches in County Wexford first won the award in 2003, with the programme rolled out nationally in 2008.
Ireland’s 1,800 Clean Coast groups and the thousands of volunteers who work with authorities to help keep their coastal areas clean are central to the Green Coast awards.
Cork holds onto its title as the county with the most Green Coast beaches in 2022, with 15.
This year the county added a new name to its growing list, with Ballynamona Beach clinching the gong for the first time.
Mornington in Meath and Oysterhaven in Cork both last awarded in 2020 have been awarded for the 2022 season.
Kilfarrassey in Waterford last awarded in 2018 and Balcarrick Beach, Donabate in Fingal, last awarded in 2016 have both been awarded for the upcoming season.
Just five beaches across the country have been awarded a Blue Flag and Green Coast Award for the 2022 season.
They are Balcarrick Beach Donabate in Fingal; Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs) in Kerry; Salthill, Silverstrand and Trá Inis Oirr in Galway.
The 2022 Blue Flag and Green Coast awards were presented by Heritage Minister Malcolm Noonan on Friday/yesterday afternoon in a ceremony at Curracloe Beach in County Wexford.
He said: “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 and 62 green coast awards today and want to commend the great efforts made by local authorities, An Taisce, coastal communities and volunteers for their work around the country.
Coastal awards manager at An Taisce, Ian Diamond, added: “We were delighted to be welcomed to the Sunny Southeast today for the opportunity to celebrate the beaches and marinas awarded for the 2022 season. It takes a lot of hard work and dedication to manage a beach or marina to the excellent standards required by these award programmes.
"It’s been too long since we’ve had the opportunity to acknowledge these efforts in person, and I would like to thank all in attendance and our hosts Wexford County Council for helping us make today’s event worth the wait.”
Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised eco-labels.
It originated in France in 1985 and was launched as an international programme as part of the ‘European Year of the Environment’ in 1987.
In 1988, the first year sites were awarded outside of France 19 beaches and 2 marinas received the Blue Flag in Ireland. 2022 is the 35th year that beaches and marinas have been awarded here in Ireland and the 95 beaches and marinas being awarded is the highest annual total to date.
Cork’s blue flag beaches
Barley Cove
Fountainstown
Garretstown
Garrylucas, White Strand
Inchydoney East Beach
Inchydoney West Beach
Owenahincha, Little Island Strand
Redbarn
Tragumna
Youghal, Claycastle
Youghal, Front Strand
Cork Blue flag marinas
Kinsale Yacht Club
The Royal Cork Yacht Club Marina
Blue flag beaches in County Dublin
Killiney
Seapoint
Balcarrick, Donabate
Portmarnock, Velvet Strand Beach
Rush, South Beach
Galway’s blue flag beaches
Salthill Beach
Silverstrand Beach
An Trá Mór, Coill Rua, Indreabhán
Bathing Place at Portumna
Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór
Loughrea Lake
Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua
Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach)
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