Waterford beaches recognised as being among best in Ireland

Beaches in Waterford were among the winners at this year's An Taisce, International Blue Flag and National Green Coast Awards.

The awards were presented by An Taisce at a ceremony hosted by Cork County Council in Mall House, Youghal, County Cork on Thursday, May 14.

A total of 168 awards were presented on the day with 146 beaches receiving awards, along with one tourism boat, and nine marinas.  

This year, 12 beaches were presented with both a Blue Flag and a Green Coast Award, achieving dual award status, and in doing so bringing the overall total to 168 awards.

Those beaches included Bunmahon, Clonea and Tramore in Co Waterford, along with Balcarrick, Donabate in Fingal; Salthill and Silver Strand in Galway City, An Trá,Inis Oirr in Galway County; Inchydoney Beach East in Cork; Baile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs) in Kerry; Bettystown in Meath, and Enniscrone and Rosses Point in Sligo.

County Kerry was awarded with the most Blue Flags this year while Cork received the most Green Coast Awards.

Speaking at the ceremony hosted by Cork County Council in Mall House, Youghal, Tracey Lydon, Head of Operational Projects, Education & Community Action at An Taisce said: "We are pleased to be welcomed to East Cork, to recognise the beaches, marinas and tourism boat awarded the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards for the 2026 season."

"The local authorities, Clean Coasts groups, marina operators, and tourism boat operator responsible for their management have committed considerable effort to ensure that these sites and boat meet the high standards required by The Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards," she said.

"I would like to extend my congratulations to all the award recipients on their achievements," she added.

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," he said.

The Blue Flag Award is one of the world’s most recognised environmental awards. Originating in France in 1985, it 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 two marinas received the Blue Flag in Ireland. This year marks the 39th year that beaches and marinas have been awarded Blue Flag Awards in Ireland, with 95 beaches, marinas and tourism boats being awarded for the current season.

The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas and eco-tourism boats around the world.  The 85 Irish beaches, nine marinas and the Skellig Bounty - the first tourism boat to be awarded a Blue Flag in Ireland  - must adhere to specific criteria in the areas of water quality, waste management, biodiversity protection, education, information, safety, and accessibility.

Overall, 85 beaches around Ireland were awarded a Blue Flag for the 2026 bathing season, which runs from June 1st to September 15th. Additionally, nine marinas were awarded for up to 12 months, from June 1st, 2026, based on their season of operation and compliance with the award criteria, and one tourism boat received a Blue Flag Award for the first time in Blue Flag history in Ireland.

Bunmahon Beach was awarded a Blue Flag for the first time since 2012 while just a little further up the coast, Duncannon Beach in Co Wexford was awarded the flag for the first time since 2007.

Both Duncannon and Bunmahon beaches received the awards, in part, due to a significant improvement of in-season bathing water quality over the most recent assessment period, 2022 to 2025.

Kerry was awarded the most Blue Flags this year with a total of 16 going to the Kingdom and of those 14 are managed by Kerr County Council.

Additionally, Portmagee Marina is managed by Kilrush Maritime Ltd, and Skellig Bounty operating out of Knightstown, Valentia Island, is managed by Aqua Terra Boat Tours.

However, it wasn't all good news for Waterford as Counsellor's Strand in Dunmore East and Ardmore failed to retain the Blue Flag status they achieved in 2025.

The other four beaches around the country that failed to reach the required standard this year included: Lahinch, in Co Clare; Fountainstown, in Co Cork; Portsalon in Co Donegal; and Ballymoney, North Beach, in Wexford. 

Having failed to achieve an ‘Excellent’ classification over the latest evaluation period, 2022 to 2025,none of the aforementioned beaches met the water quality standard required to be awarded a Blue Flag for the coming bathing season. 

However, all of them attained a water quality classification of 'Good' which is the second highest classification possible under the Bathing Water Quality Regulations 2008.

Eighty-five out of 153 identified bathing waters in Ireland were awarded a Blue Flag for the 2026 bathing season.

An Taisce – The National Trust for Ireland - is responsible for the operation of the Blue Flag programme in Ireland on behalf of the Foundation of Environmental Education (FEE). Overall, 53 countries operate the Blue Flag programme globally and more than 5,200 beaches, marinas and tourism boats will be awarded the Blue Flag this year. The Blue Flag programme in Ireland is supported by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Green Coast Award

A record-setting 73 Beaches receive the Green Coast Award for the 2026 Bathing Season.

This award recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty. 

Green Coast Award sites are exceptional places to visit and enjoy our rich coastal heritage and diversity.  An important aspect of the Green Coast Awards is the involvement of voluntary Clean Coasts groups, who participate in community clean-ups and help manage the applicant beaches in cooperation with Local Authorities. 

The main purpose of the Green Coast Award programme is to foster partnerships within communities in effort to protect and enhance local coastal environs, and to celebrate the efforts of those communities.  

The first Green Coast Awards were presented to four beaches in Wexford in 2003. The award was rolled out nationally in 2008 and has gone from strength to strength ever since. In Ireland the Green Coast Award is operated by An Taisce with the support of the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment and Fáilte Ireland.  

This year a total of 73 beaches were presented with The Green Coast Award with Wexford and Waterford receiving the second highest number of Green Coast award, at 10 each.

Receiving three such awards, Waterford had the most first-time Green Coast Award beaches this year, with the Green Coast flags flying over Whiting Bay, Tramore and Clonea this year.

Tramore and Clonea also had the prestige of being awarded Blue Flag status as well.

In relation to Grange in County Wexford, cliff stabilization works at Grange Beach have been required at two locations, resulting in temporary restrictions on public access. 

Although work at one site has been completed, works at the second site are ongoing.

The projected completion date for these essential projects, which aim to ensure continued public access, is currently scheduled for the first week of July.

Grange has been designated as a Green Coast Award site for the 2026 season; however, the award flag cannot be flown at the beach until all works are completed and the beach has been reopened to the public.