Clare offers an extensive coastline with a choice of quality beaches, many meeting the Blue Flag standard. The miles of beaches available are great for swimming, exploring rock pools and all sorts of beach fun.

There are plenty of water activities to be enjoyed, from sub-aqua, sailing, diving, water skiing, rowing, canoeing, land yachting and surfing.

Clare’s coastal Blue Flag beaches include Fanore, Kilkee, Lahinch, Spanish Point, White Strand Doonbeg, and White Strand Miltown Malbay. Clare also has two inland blue-flag beaches on the shores of Lough Derg at Mountshannon and at Ballycugggeran, near Killaloe. Lahinch has earned a reputation as a top ‘surf centre’, with surf schools, social life and entertainment.

Fanore has an extensive sandy beach and sand dune system and is a popular swimming spot, owing to its location on the edge of the Burren.

The Blue Flag Programme

The Blue Flag is an international award for beach excellence. It is presented to beaches with excellent water quality, providing a range of services and visitor facilities, and meeting other specified criteria including environmental management, litter control and education.