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The Irish Sun
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Irish seaside spot ‘perfect for swimming' with ‘calm waters' named one of best beaches in world – can you guess where?
A POPULAR Irish beach has been named one of the best beaches in the world - and it's 'perfect for swimming' with its 'calm waters'. Keem Beach in Mayo boasts beautiful white sands, adorable sea life and captivating views. Advertisement 4 Keem Bay has been ranked one of the best seaside spots in the world Credit: Getty 4 It's located on Achill Island, Co Mayo Credit: Getty Located in the west of Achill Island, the Blue Flag Beach is a favourite spot among locals and tourists. With its soft white sands, turquoise waters and steep slopes, beachgoers will feel like they have escaped to a far away paradise. Keem Bay is a very popular spot for water sports and Its perfect for walks and picnics as it's surrounded by plants, Advertisement READ MORE IN TRAVEL Experts at Ranking number 18 out of 50, the travel pros said the Irish spot is perfect swimming and discovering marine life. They said: 'Along the lush green coast of County 'The beach itself is surrounded by grassy slopes, and its curved shape helps to protect beachgoers from the elements. Advertisement Most read in Beach 'This Blue Flag Beach is perfect for swimming, offering calm waters that are full of rich and diverse marine life. 'The Bay was a former basking shark fishery, so even now you can see these gentle giants in and around the waters off Keem Beach. The incredible Irish beach with bay filled with playful dolphins and boat trip 'If you want a quiet, secluded trip to the beach, then we highly recommend visiting Keem Beach.' Movie fans may spot a major location that featured in the blockbuster Banshees of Inisherin. Advertisement Brendan Gleeson's character Colm Doherty's house is found on Keem Bay. Nearby sights to see include Moyteogue Head, Purteen Harbour and Achill Head. To make it a stay to remember, there's a selection of B&Bs and holiday homes close by. People took to to rate their experience at Keem Bay. Advertisement 'BEAUTIFUL' One visitor said: 'Well worth the drive out here. The views all around are very good and hard to beat. "You have a sense of being away from all the hustle of life.' Another shared: 'Beautiful beach and amazing views from above the beach. "Drive was adventurous thanks to roads and sheep! Weather was great when we went.' Advertisement While a family added: 'It's a great beach but can get busy. "There is a warden now who does his best to control the traffic and ensure sensible parking which is helpful. "There are a couple of food vans in the lower car park so it is a bit commercialised but probably quite useful. "The beach is excellent, good sandy area etc - and looks great.' Advertisement 4 Some scenes in The Banshees of Inisherin were filmed on Keem beach Credit: Getty 4 Keem Beach was ranker 18 out of 50 Credit: Getty
Metro
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
'Secret' Irish beach beats Maldives hotspot as one of the world's best
If you're dreaming of lying on a beach right now, you might be picturing yourself on a Maldives atoll, or snoozing on a cove in Positano. But there's a stunning spot much closer to home, described as a 'secluded paradise' with 'tropical vibes'. It's time to put Ireland's Keem Beach on your radar. The beautiful beach, sometimes within Keem Bay on Achill Island, along the Wild Atlantic Way. It was named in the annual ranking by World's 50 Best Beaches, coming in at number 7 in Europe, and 48 in the entire world. It beats the likes of Kuramathi Sandbank in the Maldives, and La Pelosa in Sardinia, to claim its spot. Fuel your wanderlust with our curated newsletter of travel deals, guides and inspiration. Sign up here. While the mercury never exactly soars here (visitors can enjoy pleasant average highs of 16C in July and August), its white sand and crystal clear sea have been praised for rivalling more exotic spots. 'Keem Beach stands out for its raw natural beauty and surprisingly blue waters which resemble those found in more tropical locations,' reads the list. Fans of the Oscar winning-film, The Banshees of Inisherin, might also recognise it: Keem Bay is where Brendan Gleeson's character, Colm Doherty, calls home. The beach at also the setting for the final scene of the film. Keem Beach is beloved by those who have been lucky enough to visit. The spot has five stars on TripAdvisor, with travellers saying it's a destination like no other. 'I have been around this funny old world,' wrote one reviewer, 'but I think this was possibly the most beautiful beach I have seen.' Others agreed: 'Keem, despite hundreds of visits since early childhood, continues to amaze as possibly my top wonder of the world.' Over on TikTok, viewers had no idea that such a beautiful gem existed. 'Wow this is stunning!' wrote a commenter. 'Would not have thought this was Ireland.' However, the one critique visitors have of Keem is that, perhaps unsurprisingly, it gets pretty crowded. 'It's a great beach but can get busy,' wrote a visitor. 'There is a warden now who does his best to control the traffic and ensure sensible parking which is helpful.' Another said the traffic was 'worse than the M50' while one guest advised people to 'get there early to avoid the streams of traffic in the afternoon as parking is limited.' It's one of five Blue Flag beaches on Achill. There is a lifeguard during swimming season The beach is completely free Public toilets are available Water temperature is pretty chilly, peaking at 16C from July to September There is an accessible ramp to get down to the beach, but no accessible toilets If simply gazing at your surroundings isn't enough, there's plenty to do at Keem. During the cooler months, you can talk a stroll along the top of the cliffs – there's a short walk (less than a mile) that ends at Achill Head, the most westerly point of the island. Or, you can take a trip to Bunowna, a deserted village which used to be a seasonal home for workers that grazed cattle in the summer. Now, you can wander around the abandoned cottages. In the summer though, the beach truly comes alive with families visiting and splashing about in the cool sea. More Trending For adventurers, book on a tour with Achill Surf. The company provides kayaking and surfing lessons – they even offer five day summer camps for children aged nine to 17. There's also some pretty impressive wildlife to be seen at Keem – in particular, sharks. Not the scary kind though. Tourists flock to see basking sharks, the second largest shark after the whale shark. The so-called gentle giants are often spotted around Achill Island in the warmer months and, thankfully, are generally friendly towards humans and boats. Do you have a story to share? Get in touch by emailing MetroLifestyleTeam@ MORE: Two 'stunning' destinations get new flight routes from major UK airport MORE: New train will link Morocco's most spectacular cities for the first time MORE: 'Breathtaking' pier named UK's best despite nearly being destroyed last year
