Mayo beach loses Blue Flag status for 2025 with eleven beaches awarded

A MAYO beach has been awarded a prestigious Blue Flag Award for the 37th consecutive year but the number of Blue Flags in the county fell from 12 to eleven for 2025.

Mayo has been awarded eleven An Taisce International Blue Flags for 2025 at the presentation ceremony held in the Ravenport Resort in Curracloe, Co Wexford this afternoon.

The number of Blue Flags awarded to Mayo was reduced by one compared to 2024 with the Golden Strand Beach in Dugort on Achill Island losing its flag due to issues over access to the beach.

All the other Mayo beaches which were awarded Blue Flags in 2024 have retained their Blue Flag status with Keel beach on Achill Island receiving its flag for the 37th consecutive year. The 3km long beach has retained Blue Flag status each season since it was first awarded in 1989.

Keel is one of four beaches on Achill Island to receive a Blue Flag beach in 2025 with the award also presented to Keem Bay, Dooega and Dugort beaches. The other Mayo beaches to receive a Blue Flag are Clare Island, Elly Bay and Mullaghroe beaches in Belmullet, Bertra beach in Murrisk, Mulranny beach, Old Head in Louisburgh and Ross beach in Killala.

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A record number of Blue Flags are being awarded in the Republic of Ireland with 89 to beaches and ten to marinas. Kerry is the county with most Blue Flags in 2025 with 15 followed by Donegal with 14 Blue Flags and Cork and Mayo in joint third with eleven flags.

The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised environmental awards, and 2025 is the 38th year that beaches and marinas have been awarded in Ireland.

The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas and eco-tourism boats around the world. The 89 Irish beaches and ten marinas that have achieved this accolade must adhere to specific criteria related to water quality, information provision, environmental education, safety and site management for the duration of the bathing season.

While the Golden Strand on Achill Island lost its Blue Flag, it was awarded with a Green Coast Award for the first time. Nine Mayo beaches in total have been awarded a Green Coast Award which recognises beaches for their clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty.

The other eight beaches to receive a Green Coast Award are Inishturk, Cross beach in Louisburgh, Carrowniskey beach, Srah beach, Termon beach, Cross beach in Belmullet, Rinroe and Portacloy.

Cork is the county with the most Green Coast Awards with 14 followed by Wexford with ten and Mayo with nine.

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister James Browne TD, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage who presented the award flags said:

“Given that the Blue Flag programme is an internationally recognised symbol of high standards in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and safety, I am honoured to present a record number of awards today – 99 Blue Flags and 70 Green Coast Awards.

“We’ve come a long way since the beginning of Ireland’s Blue Flag awards in 1988, when 19 beaches and two marinas were recognised.

“This didn’t happen by magic. Great credit must go to local authorities, An Taisce, coastal communities and particularly all those local volunteers who have worked tirelessly around the country to keep so many of our coastal areas, beaches and marinas in pristine condition for us all to enjoy.

“Presenting these awards on a great day in Curracloe and - in the current good weather - anticipating the happy days ahead for so many families on this very beach over the summer, I am particularly proud that the beautiful beaches and marinas from around my own home county of Wexford are amongst those recognised today,” he said.

Ms Cathy Baxter, Director of Education and Community Action at An Taisce said:

“We were delighted to be back in the sunny southeast once again, to present The Blue Flag and Green Coast Award Flags for the 2025 season. There are an unprecedented number of sites receiving awards this year. We would like to congratulate all the Local Authorities, marina operators and Clean Coasts groups responsible for managing the awarded beaches and marinas to the excellent standards required. I would also like to thank Wexford County Council for hosting us here in Curracloe today.”