Revealed: Eleven Cork beaches secure Blue Flag status for 2024

Garretstown Beach in Cork. Picture: Larry Cummins

Eleven Cork beaches have been awarded Blue Flags for 2024, with Garretstown regaining the coveted status.

This year, some 94 Blue Flags and 70 Green Coast Awards were given out across Ireland.

All 10 Cork beaches with Blue Flag status in 2023 retained their flag. 

Two Cork beaches, Fountainstown and Inchydoney East Beach, were also given Green Coast Awards.

The Cork beaches with Blue Flags for 2024 are:

• Youghal Front Strand;
• Youghal Claycastle;
• Redbarn;
• Fountainstown;
• Garrylucas, White Strand;
• Garretstown;
• Inchydoney East Beach;
• Inchydoney West Beach;
• Owenahincha, Little Island Strand;
• Tragumna;
• Barleycove.

Three beaches which had Blue Flags last year have lost out this year. They are Rush South beach in Fingal, Co Dublin; Ballymoney North beach in Wexford and Tramore in Co Waterford. 

The Blue Flag Programme requires that beaches being awarded for the upcoming season have achieved excellent bathing water quality in the most recent annual classification. Each of the sites received a classification of “Good”, the second-highest classification available based on analysis of bathing water samples over the past four bathing seasons.

Meanwhile, Bettystown Beach in Meath has this year been awarded a Blue Flag for the first time since 1996. The beach is one of three that were not chosen in 2023 to get a Blue Flag. The other two beaches are Enniscrone Beach and Traught in Kinvara.

The Blue Flag is one of the world’s most recognised environmental awards. The programme aims to raise environmental awareness and promote sound environmental management of beaches, marinas and eco-tourism boats around the world.

The full list of Blue Flag beaches can be seen below: 

Green Coast Awards

Meanwhile, a record 70 beaches received Green Coast Awards for 2024, four more than last year. Five sites that were not awarded in 2023 get the flag in 2024. 

Those are:

• Quilty Beach, Seafield, Co Clare 
• Cross, Louisburgh  
• Portacloy
• Enniscrone Beach
• Arklow South Beach

The Green Coast is awarded for excellent water quality as well as environmental management. Green Coast Award sites "are exceptional places to visit and enjoy our rich coastal heritage and diversity".

In Cork, 14 beaches were given Green Coast Awards. 

Those are: 

• Ring;
• Ardnahinch, Shanagarry;
• Ballynamona Beach;
• Inch Strand;
• Fountainstown Beach;
• Rocky Bay;
• Inchydoney East;
• Red Strand;
• Sherkin Island, Silver Strand Beach;
• Cadogan's Strand;
• Ballyrisode;
• Galley Cove;
• Dooneen Pier;
• Garnish Beach, Lehanmore.

Speaking at the Blue Flag and Green Coast awards ceremony, Minister of State Hildegarde Naughton said: "As we get warmed up for the bathing and swimming season this year we are breaking the record with some 70 beaches receiving the Green Coast Award. 

"We all know just how lucky we are to have such beautiful water quality and natural beauty across our shores and this year’s recipients are testament to just how exceptional and rich in diversity that our beaches are."