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An Taisce, the National Trust for Ireland, has revealed the winners of the International Blue Flag and Green Coast programmes for 2026, with 168 awards handed out at a ceremony in Youghal, Co Cork. The list includes beaches, marinas and one tourism boat recognised for water quality, safety and coastal management.
Awards summary and context
In total, Ireland secured 95 Blue Flags and 73 Green Coast Awards, bringing the country’s tally to 168—one fewer than last year’s record. The honours cover 146 beaches, nine marinas and a single tourism vessel; 12 beaches achieved both Blue Flag and Green Coast status.
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The awards were announced this afternoon at Mall House in Youghal, County Cork, at an event hosted by Cork County Council. The Blue Flag scheme is now in its 39th year in Ireland; it began in France in 1985 and first arrived here in 1988.
Minister for Nature, Heritage and Biodiversity Christopher O’Sullivan, TD, praised local action, saying: “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 (2026)
Clare
- Ballycuggeran
- Cappagh Pier
- Fanore
- Kilkee
- Mountshannon, Lough Derg
- Spanish Point
- White Strand Doonbeg
- White Strand Miltown Malbay
Cork
- 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
- Bundoran
- An Charraig Fhinn
- Culdaff
- Na Dúnaibh
- Fionntrá
- Trá na Cille
- Cnoc an Mharmair
- Murvagh
- An Fhearthainn
- Rossnowlagh
- Stroove
Dún Laoghaire–Rathdown
- Killiney
- Seapoint
Fingal
- Donabate, Balcarrick Beach
- Velvet Strand, Portmarnock
Galway City
- 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
- 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
- Clogherhead
- Port, Lurganboy
- Templetown – Shellig Hill
Mayo
- 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
- Bettystown
Sligo
- Enniscrone
- Rosses Point Beach
Waterford
- Bunmahon
- Clonea Beach
- Tramore Beach
Wexford
- Ballinesker Beach
- Carne
- Curracloe
- Duncannon
- Morriscastle Beach
- Rosslare Strand
Wicklow
- Brittas Bay North Beach
- Brittas Bay South Beach
- Greystones South Beach
Blue Flag marinas (2026)
- Rathmullan (Donegal County Council)
- Fenit Marina (Kerry County Council)
- Kilrush Marina (Kilrush Maritime)
- Portmagee Marina (Kilrush Maritime)
- Kinsale Yacht Club – KYC
- Quigleys, Killinure Point Marina (Quigleys Marina)
- Royal Cork Yacht Club – RCYC
- Kilmore Quay Marina (Wexford County Council)
- New Ross Marina (Wexford County Council)
Blue Flag tourism boat (2026)
Aqua Terra Boat Tours – Skellig Bounty
Green Coast Awards (2026)
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
- Golden 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
County highlights from the announcement show Kerry leading on the number of Blue Flags, while Cork secured the most Green Coast Awards (13) and the highest combined total, with 25 recognitions across both programmes.
