Causeway Coast and Glens Leads the Way at 2026 Beach and Marina Awards, Securing Outstanding Regional Success

Northern Ireland’s award-winning beaches and marinas were announced at a ceremony held at The Stables in Groomsport, Co. Down.

Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council is proud to celebrate significant success at the 2025/26 Beach and Marina Awards, with a number of local beaches and marinas receiving prestigious Blue Flag and Seaside Award recognition. The Borough also delivered an exceptional regional performance, accounting for more than half of all 21 winning sites across Northern Ireland.

The internationally recognised Blue Flag Awards, managed locally by Live Here Love Here on behalf of the Foundation for Environmental Education, represent the highest standard for beaches and marinas worldwide. Sites are assessed against strict criteria covering environmental management, safety, accessibility and sustainability , for beaches, bathing water quality.

This year, Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council proudly secured Blue Flag status for:

• Benone Strand
• Castlerock Beach
• Downhill Strand
• Portrush East Strand Beach
• Portrush West Strand Beach
• Whiterocks Beach
• Ballycastle Marina
• Coleraine Marina

The Blue Flag programme is one of the world’s most recognised environmental awards, with more than 5,100 sites across 51 countries currently flying the flag. The recognition reflects the borough’s continued commitment to maintaining high-quality, well-managed coastal destinations for residents and visitors alike.

Alongside this success, the Borough also achieved further recognition through the Seaside Awards, which celebrate clean, safe and well-managed beaches across the UK. The Seaside Award is a mark of quality management that highlights strong performance in water quality, environmental management, environmental education and visitor safety.

This year’s Seaside Award winners in the Causeway Coast and Glens Borough Council area are:

• Ballycastle Beach
• Cushendall Beach
• Waterfoot Beach

The 2025/26 awards were particularly significant for Cushendall Beach, which received a Seaside Award for the very first time - a major achievement for the local community and all those involved in maintaining and enhancing the area’s coastal environment.

Mayor of Causeway Coast and Glens, Councillor Oliver McMullan, said:

“We are delighted to see so many of our coastal locations recognised once again through the Blue Flag and Seaside Awards schemes. These awards reflect the year-round dedication of Council staff, communities, volunteers and partners in caring for our coastline.

“As someone from the Glens area, I am especially proud that Cushendall Beach has received a Seaside Award for the first time. This is a fantastic achievement for the village and recognition of ongoing local efforts to enhance this beautiful stretch of coastline.

“Our beaches and marinas are among our greatest natural assets, attracting visitors from far and wide. These awards reinforce Causeway Coast and Glens as a world-class coastal destination with clean, safe and sustainable spaces for everyone to enjoy.”

Council would like to thank residents, visitors and local communities for their continued support in helping to protect and preserve the Borough’s unique coastline for future generations.

Eric Randall, CEO of Live Here Love Here, added:

“I want to warmly congratulate the beaches and marinas that have won a Blue Flag or a Seaside Award this year. These awards are about celebrating all that is good in our marine environment and reminding the public about the importance of looking after our blue spaces. None of the progress we celebrate today would be possible without the work of our volunteers and officers in our councils."

For more information on beaches and visitor information across the Borough, visit: https://causewaycoastandglens.gov.uk/see-do/beaches