Mayo beaches have secured eleven Blue Flag Awards
The Blue Flag Award is one of the world’s most recognised environmental awards.
The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches.
Overall, 85 beaches around Ireland have been awarded a Blue Flag for the 2026 bathing season, which runs from June 1st to September 15th.
The Mayo beaches that have secured the award this year are Bertra , Clare Island, Mulranny , Old Head together with four Achill beaches – Dooega , Dugort , Keel, and Keem beaches, two Belmullet beaches – Elly Bay and Mullaghroe , and Ross Beach, Killala.
Ten Blue Flags have been awarded to beaches in county Galway.
Salthill , Silverstrand , An Trá Mór, Coill Rua in Indreabháin , the Bathing Place at Portumna , Céibh an Spidéal , Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór, Loughrea Lake, Trá an Doilin, An Ceathrá Rua , Trá Inis Oirr and Traught beach, Kinvara
Two Sligo beaches have been awarded Blue Flags this year – Enniscrone and Rosses Point.
A number of beaches in this region have also secured The Green Coast Award.
It 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 these 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.
A total of 73 beaches are being presented with The Green Coast Award today, the highest total awarded to date.
9 Green Coast Awards have been secured for Mayo beaches
They are Carrowniskey and Cross in Louisburgh, Cross beach on the Erris Peninsula together with Rinroe, Srah Termon, and Portacloy in Erris, Tranaun on Inishturk and Goldren Strand, Achill
4 Green Coast Awards have been awarded in county Sligo.
They include Enniscrone , Dunmoran Strand , Rosses Point and Streedagh beaches.
8 Green Coast Awards were secured in county Galway.
They are – Salthill , Silver Strand, Silver Hill/Aillebrack , Dumhach Beach,East End Bay Inishbofin , Renvyle Beach , An Tra Inis Oirr and Tra Poll na gCaorach, Inis Oirr
Director of Services with Mayo County Council Joanne Grehan has been speaking with Midwest News Editor Teresa O’Malley about the counties success …
