Connemara's scalloped coastline is home to some stunning beaches, none more so than the Errisbeg Peninsula's twins, 3km west of Roundstone. The golden sands of Gurteen Bay and Dog's Bay, made of brilliant white sand, are separated by a dog-bone-shaped sand spit and tombolo. Back to back, Gurteen Beach and Dog's Bay form a tombolo extending out into the Atlantic Ocean. Unlike other beaches, the sands are made of broken seashells, giving them a Caribbean flavor.

Dog's Bay is shaped like a horseshoe and features a mile-long stretch of white sand beach. The sand is similar to that at Gurteen Bay in that it is constructed completely of seashell bits, giving it a pure white color. Both beaches are well protected from currents and have crystal clear waters, making them suitable for swimming and other water sports such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. The beach is naturally protected by the headland to the south, and it is a popular summer vacation spot for locals and tourists alike.

Location: Ervallagh, Roundstone, County Galway, Ireland

'Trá Mór' (or Tramore) simply means 'large beach' in Irish, and while the country has a number of them, this isolated jewel in the shadow of the Horn Head peninsula is undoubtedly the most beautiful. It takes some effort to get there: you will have to clamber through the wind-blown grassy dunes for about 15 minutes from the arched bridge at the end of the inlet that marks the end of Killihoey Beach (another beauty), but your reward is a two-kilometer curve so isolated and beautiful that you will instinctively want to keep the secret to yourself. Enjoy a leisurely stroll down this gorgeous beach with only the companionship of fulmars, sanderlings, and the occasional oystercatcher for company. And, with the exception of the hottest days, you can.

A piece of "local knowledge": if there is going to be a good sunset on a late spring or summer evening, this trek across to Tramore is a great way to see it! Swimming from Trá Mór beach is not recommended due to extremely severe currents and rip tides.

Location: Dunfanaghy, County Donegal, Ireland

This quiet stretch of golden sand on Achill Island's western coast is perhaps the most garlanded of Irish beaches. You have to walk down a steepish footpath to reach the beach proper, which is hemmed in on three sides by cliffs that are part of the jagged Croaghaun Cliffs - Ireland's highest.

One of the island's most stunning beaches, Keem Bay, remains untouched and offers visitors an unrivaled perspective. Keem Bay is also considered one of Europe's most beautiful sites, even with the unpredictable weather and the dark Atlantic. Its Blue Flag designation barely does credit to the spectacular surroundings. It is surrounded by towering cliffs (of Croaghaun mountain to the east and the Moyteoge spar to the west). Water activities are also popular in Keem Bay. Swimming, kayaking, surfing, and windsurfing are popular activities for visitors. The bay, which was formerly a popular spot for shark fishing, is now a fantastic and safe snorkeling spot. Hikers won't want to miss the mile-long trail that starts here and leads to Achill Head along the cliffs of Benmore. The drive to Keem Bay, on the other hand, might be the best part of the experience. The view is breathtaking as you wind your way along a clifftop path with the Croaghuan mountain on one side and the Atlantic Ocean on the other.

Location: Achill, County Mayo, Ireland

The curving, dune-backed Streedagh Strand is the ideal choice for those who truly wish a swim among Sligo's enviably extensive array of beautiful beaches. Strandhill and Mullaghmore, the county's more well-known surfing areas, are good for surfing, but Streedagh is the swimmer's pick due to its sheltering location in a semi-protected, tranquil bay. The sand dunes at the back of the beach provide further protection, and from atop them, there are unimpeded views to the north of the beautiful Donegal highlands on a clear day. The wreckage of three ships that ran aground here during the Spanish Armada of 1588 can be seen offshore at low tide.

Streedagh Strand is located 15 minutes from Mullaghmore, 20 minutes from Bundoran and Sligo Town, 25 minutes from Rosses Point, and 35 minutes from Strandhill. Surfers prefer Streedagh Strand because it is an exposed beach with reef breakers. Due to severe tides and undercurrents, swimming at Streedagh is only recommended for experienced swimmers. During the summer, a lifeguard is on duty.

Location: County Sligo, Ireland

Inch Strand is the next name on the list of the best beaches in Ireland. This 5km-long sand spit that stretches into the Dingle Peninsula is Ireland's most famous beach, having been featured in at least three major motion pictures, and is a must-see on any trip to Ireland's beaches. While its appearances in films like Ryan's Daughter (1970), Excalibur (1981), and Far And Away (1992) provided people a taste of its grandeur, you truly have to feel your toes in the sand to realize what a magical part of County Kerry this Blue Flag beach is.

Inch Strand faces west, which means it has good surf. In the summer, local surf schools are busy teaching people how to remain afloat on the waves, which may reach 3 meters high. If surfing is not your thing, Inch is also a great place to go birdwatching, although it is more about taking a walk and a swim. If you go during low tide, you will get an incomparable view. If you are lucky, you will catch a glimpse of the sky reflected in the newly exposed sand below.

Location: Dingle Peninsula, County Kerry, Ireland

If the rest of the world knows about Inch Strand, then this massive Blue Flag beach, located 13 kilometers northwest of Tralee, is a local favorite. Locals from Tralee and the surrounding area flock here on summer weekends – or whenever it is not raining – to walk the entire 6km of beach, making it one of Ireland's largest. Swimming in Banna Strand is not madness thanks to the Gulf Stream's warming waters, especially on those glorious September days when the sea has been softened by a long summer, but even if you do not fancy getting in the water, the 10m-high dunes offer some stunning views – look southwest to take in the glory of Mt Brandon and the Dingle hills.

The shallow waters make Banna Strand a favorite family holiday site, and it is an excellent spot for surfing and windsurfing. When the tide is out, you will be able to stroll for miles through undulating hills. Bicycles and strollers can use a paved route that runs behind the beach.

Location: Ardfert, County Kerry, Ireland

Trawmore Bay is the seventh name on the list of the best beaches in Ireland. Between the settlements of Keel and Dookinelly on Achill Island's western seaboard, this lovely Blue Flag beach forms a 4km-long crescent of golden sand. This blend of sand and shingle is a favorite site for bodyboarders and surfers who test their talents in the Atlantic breakers. It does not get the oohs and aahs reserved for Keem Bay - only 3km away – but it is beautiful in its own right. Watersports aficionados, notably surfers who appreciate the sweeping Atlantic breakers, flock to this beach. Due to strong underwater currents, bathers should only swim at the western (Keel) end of Trawmore Strand. The safe bathing locations are clearly marked with warning signs.

Trawmore Bay is also one of the most photographed beaches in Ireland, particularly from the Minaun Cliffs at the beach's eastern end, which rises to a height of 466m and is the ideal position to photograph the beach at sunset.

Location: Achill Island, County Mayo, Ireland

The eighth name on the list of the best beaches in Ireland is Ballyquin Beach. This incredibly quiet beach is around 5km northeast of the popular seaside town of Ardmore, an arc of magnificent white sand that gives way to tidal rock pools at its eastern edge, above which are the remnants of a previous stud.

Ballyquin Beach, unlike the much more popular beach in Ardmore, is rather unfrequented: locals come here for morning swims, and in the evenings, it is a fantastic site for surf fishing, with residents tossing a rod in the hope of catching flatfish or a bass. While swimmers prefer the beach on Ardmore's outskirts, this stretch of shore is frequently used for long beach walks. The beach's beautiful sand is progressively replaced by pebbles as it approaches its eastern end. The ruins of a past stud seem to have fallen asleep over these rocks. To reach Ballyquin Beach, take the R673 to Goat Island and look for the road sign.

Location: Ardmore, County Waterford, Ireland

Ballymastocker Bay will be the ninth name on the list of the best beaches in Ireland. The British Observer Magazine once rated this tawny-colored beach on the western bank of Lough Swilly the second-most beautiful beach in the world, and it is easy to see why. This Blue Flag beauty, which stretches over nearly 2 kilometers from the tourist resort of Portsalon (thus the alternate name of Portsalon Beach), provides spectacular views of the Inishowen Peninsula. Ballymastocker Bay spans from Portsalon Pier to Magherawarden on the east coast of Fanad in Donegal. It is without a doubt one of Ireland's most beautiful beaches, and it was once rated the world's second most beautiful beach, beaten to the top spot by a beach in Seychelles.

There are numerous beaches in Ireland, but none as impressive as Ballymastocker Bay (also known as Portsalon Beach) in Donegal. The beach itself is photogenic: on the R268 Knockalla coastal route, as you come over the high headland, there is a pull-off location with a beautiful view of the beach reaching all the way up to Portsalon.

Location: Magherawardan, County Donegal, Ireland

As far as city beaches go, this one in Killiney, a south Dublin suburb, is a delight. Killiney Beach is a long, stony beach near the resort town of Killiney, one of Dublin's most luxurious suburbs, where many Irish celebrities stay. The long, stony beach is backed by some of Dublin's most exclusive addresses, including the homes of some of the city's biggest celebrities, like Bono and Enya, who have unrestricted views of Killiney Bay, which is said to bear more than a passing resemblance to the Bay of Naples – hence the Italian names of many of the streets nearby. The beach is popular with swimmers, hikers, and families on a day out: you will be in good company on a lovely day, but the walk from end to end is one of Dublin's best.

The beach is popular for swimming because of its sheltered location. While the currents are not particularly powerful, the water soon becomes deep, and swimmers can find themselves out of their depth just a few meters from the beach.

Location: County Dublin, Ireland