Accessibility problems to Mayo beach resulted in loss of Blue Flag

A MAYO beach lost its Blue Flag status in 2025 as it was deemed that access to the beach would not be accessible for many beach users.

The Golden Strand beach in Dugort on Achill Island which received an An Taisce International Blue Flag in 2024 was not among the successful beaches for 2025 announced at the presentation ceremony held in the Ravenport Resort in Curracloe, Co Wexford this afternoon.

The Golden Strand had been awarded a Blue Flag on a number of occasions over the years but last August the flag was withdrawn due to 'non-compliance' with Blue Flag criteria following an in-season control visit to the beach.

In a statement to The Mayo News, a spokesperson for An Taisce explained that the Blue Flag national jury deemed that plans put forward by Mayo County Council to address access would not meet their criteria.

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“The beach could not be awarded due to it not meeting the following imperative requirement under Blue Flag Beach Award Criterion 31: 'Beaches that are physically challenging must have facilities for safe access'.

“The Blue Flag national jury deemed based on the plans put forward by Mayo County Council in the 2025 application that the access proposed for Golden Strand would not be accessible for many beach users – the distance would be ‘physically challenging’ (or in many cases just not feasible) for wheelchair users and those with limited mobility.

“The accessibility of this beach is problematic due to both the distance to the beach from proposed accessible parking and the surface (grass and sand dune) both of which present accessibility issues. For this reason, the national jury could not recommend to the International Blue Flag jury that the beach be awarded a Blue Flag in 2025,” the statement read.

A spokesperson for Mayo County Council stated that the local authority will be reviewing An Taisce’s decision 'in order to decide the best course of action to enable Golden Strand to regain the Blue Flag in future'.

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.

Keem Bay on Achill Island retained its Blue Flag status

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.

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.

Jim Horan, Administrative Officer, Environment, Climate Change and Agriculture, at Mayo County Council welcomed the retention of 20 Blue Flag and Green Coast awards for the county.

“We are delighted to have been awarded eleven Blue Flag Beaches in Mayo. The Blue Flag award is international recognition of the excellent beach and water quality at these Mayo beaches.

“We are also delighted to have been awarded nine Green Coast awards this year which is the second highest number of Green Coast awards in the country. The final total of 20 awards is also the second highest recorded in the country.

“The Blue Flag and Green Coast Awards are a global recognition of the high standards of Mayo beaches, and I would like to acknowledge the work of the Environment and Municipal District staff at Mayo County Council.

“I would also like to say a massive thanks to all our local community groups, stakeholders, and other agencies for all their efforts in ensuring that our beaches continue to be maintained to the high standards required to be awarded Blue Flag and Green Coast for the 2025 bathing season. The continued partnerships and co-operation are reflected in these excellent 2025 awards.

“Finally, we would ask all beach users this summer to continue to be responsible, follow the instructions of the lifeguards, be aware of dog restrictions and to leave nothing behind on the beach except their footprints,” he said.