Keem Bay on Achill Island off the coast of Co Mayo has been named one of the world's 100 best beaches by renowned travel publication Lonely Planet.
Keem Bay's majestic surroundings are highlighted in Lonely Planet's new book "Best Beaches: 100 of the World's Most Incredible Beaches," which is set to be published in February.
"Sloping green hillsides spill down to a deep-set horseshoe bay, where a Blue-Flag delight of a pale-blonde beach sits framed by the Croaghaun Cliffs - Ireland's highest sea cliffs - and the thundering moody-blue Atlantic," Lonely Planet says in its new book.
The publication additionally describes the journey to Keem Bay as a "vertiginous yet jaw-droppingly beautiful 4.9-mile (8km) drive from Keel village," stating that the surrounding area "sets the scene for one of Ireland’s most glorious, secluded strands."
Keem Bay. (Getty Images)
"Best Beaches" includes coastal destinations from all over the world, including Fiji, Seychelles, the US, and Antarctica, and provides "expert knowledge and insider tips" about every beach featured in the book.
It also features a range of "Top 5 Beaches" lists, including the best family-friendly beaches, the best beaches to snorkel at, the most remote beaches, and the best beaches to see nature.
Keem Bay. (Ireland's Content Pool)
Keem Bay, situated at the westernmost tip of Achill Island, is home to a deserted pre-famine village and is the site of a Blueway snorkel trail.
It is not the first time that the Irish beach won serious praise - Keem Bay previously ranked on Lonely Planet's list of 20 most stunning beaches in Europe, and has also been recognized by travel site Big 7 Travel as one of the 50 Best Beaches in the World.
In 2022, Keem Bay hit the big screen when it was famously featured in the Oscar-nominated film "The Banshees of Inisherin." Ahead of the 2023 Oscars, where the Irish film was nominated for a number of awards, a sand portrait of the movie's star Colin Farrell was unveiled on the beach.
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