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An Taisce: Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards 2025

An Taisce announce Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards 2025 with 169 awards being presented.

An Taisce has announced the recipients of the international Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards for 2025, recognising Ireland’s top beaches and marinas which adhere to specific criteria related to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and site management for the duration of the bathing season. The awards were presented by Mr. James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage, at a ceremony held in the Ravenport Resort, Curracloe, County Wexford.

Key Highlights:

Record Number of Awards: A total of 169 awards were presented, including 99 Blue Flags and 70 Green Coast Awards, marking an increase of five from last year.
Dual Award Beaches: Ten beaches received both the Blue Flag and Green Coast Award, including Balcarrick, Donabate in Fingal, and Salthill in Galway City.
Top Counties: Cork leads with the highest number of Green Coast Awards (14) and a combined total of 27 awards, including Blue Flags for Kinsale Yacht Club and The Royal Cork Yacht Club.
New and Consistent Winners: Céibh an Spidéal in County Galway received a Blue Flag for the first time since 2012, while Keel Beach on Achill Island retained its Blue Flag for the 37th consecutive year.

Map or Ireland with blue Flag Awarded sites marked — View map of Blue Flag Awarded sites

In addition to the Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has published the Bathing Water Quality in Ireland report for 2024, which highlights that 81% of Ireland’s bathing sites achieved ‘Excellent’ water quality, and 96% met or exceeded the minimum standard of ‘Sufficient’. This report also notes a decrease in the number of beaches with poor water quality, from five in 2023 to two in 2024, reflecting ongoing improvements in water management practices.

A coastal landscape featuring a sandy beach, rocky shoreline, and grassy hills. The ocean appears calm with gentle waves, and distant islands or landmasses are visible on the horizon. The sky is mostly clear with scattered clouds.

A late evening on a beach with mountains in the background

Learn more

An Taisce: Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards 2025: Ireland’s Best Beaches and Marinas
Catchments.ie – EPA publishes Bathing Water Quality in Ireland report for 2024

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EPA Catchments Unit

Administrator

The EPA Catchments Unit is based in Dublin, and the team is involved with catchment science, chemistry, ecology, hydromorphology, modelling, Geographic Information Systems and planning. We work with the wider EPA, all of our local authorities, the Local Authority Waters and Communities Office, the Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government, and other public bodies and Departments to ensure we have the best available data and information about our catchments.

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The Local Authority Waters Programme coordinates the efforts of local authorities and other public bodies in the implementation of the River Basin Management Plan, and supports local community and stakeholder involvement in managing our natural waters, for everyone’s benefit.

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The Department is responsible for making sure that the right policies, regulations and resources are in place to implement the Water Framework Directive, and developing a River Basin Management Plan and Programme of Measures to protect and restore our waters.