27 awards for Northern Ireland's best-kept beaches and marinas
Author: Emma DicksonPublished 30th May 2023
The local winners of the international Blue Flag Award and the UK-wide Seaside Award have been revealed for 2023. 
Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful announced that 18 beaches and marinas at home earned the prestigious Blue Flag Award distinction after reaching world-class standards in criteria that includes water quality, safety, accessibility, cleanliness and environmental education.
A further nine beaches received Seaside Awards, the UK’s mark of quality that ensures visitors are guaranteed to find a clean, safe, attractive and well-managed coastal stretch.
Blue Flag Beach Award winners 👇
Benone Beach, Castlerock Beach, Cranfield Bay, Downhill Beach, Murlough Beach, Portrush East Strand Beach, Portrush West Strand Beach, Tyrella Beach, Whiterocks Beach.
Back: Richard Gillen; Sammy Graham; Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Cllr Ivor Wallace; John Morton; Beni McAllister; Mark Strong Front: Lisa Russell; Dr Ian Humphreys
Representatives of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, including the mayor, Cllr Ivor Wallace, pictured with Dr Ian Humphreys, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council were awarded both Blue Flags and Seaside Awards.
27 awards for Northern Ireland's best-kept beaches and marinas
2 of 5
James Loughran; Dr Stephen McGirr; Dr Ian Humphreys; Nadine McAuley
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council representative, James Loughran pictured with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful staff. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council were awarded Blue Flags.
Back: Richard Gillen; Sammy Graham; Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Cllr Ivor Wallace; John Morton; Beni McAllister; Mark Strong Front: Lisa Russell; Dr Ian Humphreys
Representatives of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, including the mayor, Cllr Ivor Wallace, pictured with Dr Ian Humphreys, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council were awarded both Blue Flags and Seaside Awards.
Judith Hammond ; Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council, Cllr Karen Douglas; Dr Ian Humphreys
Representatives of Ards and North Down Borough Council, including the mayor, Cllr Karen Douglas, pictured with Dr Ian Humphreys, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Ards and North Down Borough Council were awarded Seaside Awards.
Back: Steven Bailie, Karena Catterson, Dr Ian Humphreys. Front: Nadine McAuley
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council representatives pictured with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful staff. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council were awarded both Blue Flags and Seaside Awards.
Mid Ulster District Council Chair, Cllr Cora Curry; Cormac McLaughlin; Dr Ian Humphreys
Mid Ulster District Council representatives, including Chair, Cllr Cora Curry, pictured with Dr Ian Humphreys, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Mid Ulster District Council were awarded a Blue Flag.
James Loughran; Dr Stephen McGirr; Dr Ian Humphreys; Nadine McAuley
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council representative, James Loughran pictured with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful staff. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council were awarded Blue Flags.
Back: Richard Gillen; Sammy Graham; Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, Cllr Ivor Wallace; John Morton; Beni McAllister; Mark Strong Front: Lisa Russell; Dr Ian Humphreys
Representatives of Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council, including the mayor, Cllr Ivor Wallace, pictured with Dr Ian Humphreys, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council were awarded both Blue Flags and Seaside Awards.
Judith Hammond ; Mayor of Ards and North Down Borough Council, Cllr Karen Douglas; Dr Ian Humphreys
Representatives of Ards and North Down Borough Council, including the mayor, Cllr Karen Douglas, pictured with Dr Ian Humphreys, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Ards and North Down Borough Council were awarded Seaside Awards.
Back: Steven Bailie, Karena Catterson, Dr Ian Humphreys. Front: Nadine McAuley
Mid and East Antrim Borough Council representatives pictured with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful staff. Mid and East Antrim Borough Council were awarded both Blue Flags and Seaside Awards.
Mid Ulster District Council Chair, Cllr Cora Curry; Cormac McLaughlin; Dr Ian Humphreys
Mid Ulster District Council representatives, including Chair, Cllr Cora Curry, pictured with Dr Ian Humphreys, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful. Mid Ulster District Council were awarded a Blue Flag.
James Loughran; Dr Stephen McGirr; Dr Ian Humphreys; Nadine McAuley
Newry, Mourne and Down District Council representative, James Loughran pictured with Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful staff. Newry, Mourne and Down District Council were awarded Blue Flags.
Seven Seaside Award sites returned excellent water-quality results, while two more rated as good, the second highest classification in this area.
The benchmarks for blue spaces were shared across councils, with Causeway Coast and Glens claiming 12 awards and Mid and East Antrim landing three Blue Flags and three Seaside Awards. 
There were also five flags for aquatic spots in Ards and North Down, and three wins for beaches in Newry, Mourne and Down. Ballyronan Marina in Mid Ulster retained its Blue Flag status for the 14thconsecutive year.
Dr Ian Humphreys, CEO of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said:
"We are extremely pleased that 27 beaches and marinas have achieved either a Blue Flag Award or Seaside Award. Each flag is a symbol that these special places are managed to an excellent standard and an important trust signal to the public that they can expect a high-quality experience when they visit one of these award-winning sites.
"At a time when budgets are tight and difficult decisions are never far away, we want to thank councils and other organisations for continuing to invest in our beaches and marinas that are much loved and valued by tourists and people at home alike."
The award-winning locations will now have their respective flags in place for the duration of the Northern Ireland bathing season, which runs from 01 June to 15 September.
