Too true! Where is Curracloe??? If it was good enough for Spielberg to film on its good enough to be on this list!! :-)

i would have to say any part of the county Wexford coast,in particular Ballinesker

Portsalon in Donegal!!! Voted the second best beach after Bondi Beach by the world survey on beaches!!!!!

Barleycove in west Cork, Inch strand and Kells in Kerry – all stunning on a day like today.

There are five blue flag beaches on Achill! Plus on your way to the island you have Mulranny Beach boasting it’s own blue flag beach as well!

All beaches on the island are within a ~15 minute drive of one another! You could be easily be spoiled for choice on a nice day. Some are good or surfing others are just nice for relaxing in the sun.

Carrickfinn Beach in Co Donegal is spectacular,and always gets the blue flag status year in year out.It’s adjacent to Donegal international airport.

Dunmore East, Waterford is more a harbour than a beach. Tramore down the road is a 5km long surf spot..

Your Donegal choice seems to be the most controversial. Still no sign of Barleycove in cork. Best “known” in Dublin does not equate to best. Leave the pale sometime and you’ll see Inchydoney isn’t a patch on Barleycove

have to say my fave beach is the one in white chaple,ballygarret co wexford.we had a mobile home there,even the time there was a thunder storm one night, because there was no electric light around,about 50 people went down to the beach to see the fork lightening.it was truely amazinhing.something i will always remember growing up

I would have to say culdaff and kinnagoe bay beaches in Inishowen are the two of the best in the country. Both are in Inishowen, Donegal. I’m very disappointed that Bumdpran is on this just because it is a tourist trap!

Of all the beaches in Donegal you could have chosen you choose Bundoran!! What about Portsalon, Marble Hill, Ards Forrest Park, Murvagh, Rosnowlagh, Trá Mór, etc. etc. etc.

St. Finan’s off the Ring of Kerry, near Ballinskelligs is a hidden gem.

Ah, come on now, no Derrynane beach in Kerry? What are you thinking of?

I agree with Portsalon in Donegal! Amazing!

Gavan Reilly! Of all the beaches to pick in Donegal you chose Bundoran??? Sadface I’m afraid. It HAS to be Portsalon – just gorgeous

Keem Bay in Achill has to be the Best in EUROPE never mind Ireland.The drive alone to beach driving between The Cliff and road cut out of mountain by the best Engineer in the World “Mother Nature ” is just like a scene straight from a James Bond Film . driving to beach at some stages on road you can look down onto beach and can see just how clear the water is.Beach Itself is cut into mountain forming a “U”shape beach which certainly keeps the wind to a min.Honestly Do yourelf a a favour and spend some time there when Good Weather comes back its well worth it .

Barley cove for sure!!!!

Keem beach all the way!!!!!!

castlegregory beach in kerry should be on this…!

Fabulous beaches all over Donegal. Bundoran? Pah!

How can you possibly have a list of best beaches without Tramore, Salthill and Lahinch? They have to be among Ireland’s best loved.

Nice to see Achill there Gavan but in my opinion Keem beach is nicer than Keel

To be fair, that’s a valid concern, Catriona.

Where the hell is Enniscrone? Or Rooskey?! Best surfing spots in Europe not even considered?

mullaghmore co sligo the best surf,diveing seafood and crack.

I know the best Son of a Beach. He’s a Banker

Where is Lahinch on the list – surfers paradise, great beach, lovely waves and only 10 minutes from the legendary Cliff of Moher….. another serious omission! :)

I’m pretty sure lahinch is clare’s premium beach.

There are loads of nicer beaches in Donegal rather than Bundoran, like those mentioned but where is Rossnowlagh???

How about Clonea Strand Co. Waterford? We need a bigger list mate! Kilkee is awesome though with the cliffs.

Fintra Bay Killybegs and Rosnowlagh, Co Donegal!!!

Dog’s Bay / Gurteen Bay in Roundstone Co. Galway. Can’t go wrong out there!

I’d invite you to come see Portsalon Rob but I’d worry you’d set fire to something

Glenbeigh or Coomenole in Kerry :)

I agree with Inch strand. Its very beautiful,but my favourite is Enniscrone,Co. Sligo. Great surf and access to to town,with miles of beach.Also great childhood memories.

Lahinch in Clare

Em, Lahinch? Surfer’s mecca, waves to intimidate and impress even mere observers…

Portrush isn’t even the best beach in Antrim never mind Ireland! Plenty of other neaches worth a a mention – Benone, Co. Derry; long golden sands and beautiful views of Inishowen one one side and the striking Binevenagh behind it. White Park Bay, Co. Antrim and Carrickfin, Co. Donegal are other personal favourites. Having said that Keem is special, the drive along the coast into it adds to the sense of adventure in even getting to it.

Portmarnock should be in the running surely? All that lovely sandy beach that goes on for a couple of miles!!

I’m still boycotting this poll until the best beaches are given as options. :) Poll is flawed without ability to vote for the best

Kinnagoe Bay, Inishowen, donegal. Hands down………don’t tell anyone though!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kinnagoe_Bay

A friend of mine has asked if any of these beaches have ladies playing volley-ball ? I don’t know what he is talking about but I said I would ask as he is very shy.

And where the flip is Curracloe on this list, might I ask?

Seems this might not have any conclusion! Lots of cool beaches on Hook Head , 14 – one a day for a fortnight , bliss

Culdaff would be my pick.

Let’s face it Gavin there is so many beautiful beaches in Ireland it is impossible to do a poll. If we could bottle the beauty of Ireland and sell it we would never be in a recession!

has to be curracloe loved it as a kid and still love bringing my kids to it now savage beach and no need for a bank behind u :)

Portsalon or the silver strand in glenclomkill,by far the most beautiful beaches in the country

Salthill??? Cliftden?

I can’t believe Kilkee isn’t on the list … The most family friendly and fun seaside resort in the country!

Tramore has to be added! A beautiful beach with all amenities nearby – how could you miss adding it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sgXbnCkWgfs&feature=share

Although Dunmore East is pretty cool tool – The Sunny South East has a lot to offer!

Enniscrone has to be the best but not on the list!

Have to go for skerries beach!!!! Fabulous walks on it aswell

Donabate, just off M1, train station, hotel beside the beach and one of the best coastal walks beside it.

Kilmurvey Beach on Inís Mór – paradise.

Portmarnock beach and Narin in Dongeal…

Rossbeigh beach, Co. Kerry.

roundstone, galway.or any beech in connemara……

only voted for sandymount as Ros Beigh near glenbiegh in Kerry wasn’t on the list!

No Portsalon! Place is spectacular. I’m from Meath and I’d happily crawl across the country just to see the place again.

Obviously no one has ever been to silver strand on Sherkin island!

Curracloe is rank. Has to be Sáilín in Galway – white sand, two curving coves, no loud D4 bimboys.

Make a new list with ALL the suggestions and Enniscrone will win.

Surprised to see you only have Sandymount in Dublin .. it’s not a great beach at all and few would know it. What about Dollymount Strand or Portmarnock?

Clogherhead Co.Louth, lovely beach and sand dunes

Gavan Reilly! Of all the beaches in Kerry, you choose not to include An Béal Bán?! Without a doubt the finest beach I’ve ever frequented – and particularly apt to be included considering the annual race is taking place on it this very weekend! I say ‘pah!’ to Portsalon.

Where’s Dollymount?

None of them. Blackrock County Louth is the best, by far! The views are stunning.

Benoe strand probably the best and cleanest beach in Europe

Kilkee by a mile.

Has to be Enniscrone, Co Sligo, or Bertra beach, Westport, co Mayo

has to be Barley Cove for me, wonderful memories of camping in the dunes as a child with my father, and whole summers spent down there even when we couldn’t camp. rolling beaches, miles of dunes, the stream running around the side, and only five minutes walk down the road the caravan park, shop and chippie with another small beach. only about 20min walk from the village too, yet its still an unspoiled patch of wilderness. by far Irelands best beach.

Salthill in Galway.

Laytown of course.
But leave Bettystown out FFS!

I suppose Galway Bay is famous for its promenade only… Living and learning…

Dunmore east isn’t even the best on Waterford. How did it make that list?

What about Morriscastle beach? Best in the country in my opinion.

Inch Beach, Kerry
Clogher Strand, Kerry
Ventry Beach, Kerry

My best beach is Curracloe in Wexford as it holds lovely memories for me.I am from dublin but my children grew up playing on that lovely beach every summer,now they have all grown up and watch their children play on it.

Derrynane Beach the best clean sand clean water ..

Derrynane beach is fabulous, sshh, don’t tell anyone !