Keem Bay on Achill Island off the coast of Co Mayo was once named one of the best beaches in the world.
Keem Bay ranked number 11 in the 2019 list of the 50 Best Beaches in the World, polled by global travel site Big 7 Travel.
The horseshoe-shaped bay, located past Dooagh village, lies at the head of a valley between the cliffs of Benmore and Croaghuan mountain. The bay has a fine sandy beach and is mostly uninhabited, with the only building a former coastguard watch-house, according to VisitAchill.com. It was once the site of a basking shark fishery.
Credit: Getty Images/John Carey 2011
Big 7 Travel wrote: “Keem Bay is a breathtaking rural and sheltered beach surrounded by cliffs on Ireland’s largest island – Achill Island. Its gleaming white sand rivals tropical islands and the water is superbly clear.
“The sun might not always be shining, but when it does it’s world-class. And yes, it’s beautiful even on a rainy day.”
According to the website, the rankings were determined by votes from Big 7 readers, aggregated scores from previous media results, official Blue Flag locations, and contributions from the Big 7 Travel editorial team.
Credit: Getty Images/John Carey 2011
Here are the top ten 2019 rankings:
1. Zlatni rat (Golden Horn Beach) – Brac, Croatia
2. Whitehaven Beach – Whitsunday Islands, Australia
3. Fig Tree Bay – Protaras, Cyprus
4. Grace Bay – Turks and Caicos
5. Secret Lagoon – El Nido, Palawan, Philippines
6. Reynisfjara Beach – Vík í Mýrdal, Iceland
7. Source d’Argent – Seychelles
8. Playa Ruinas – Quintana Roo, Mexico
9. Kanuhura Maldives – Lhaviyani Atoll Maldives
10. Pig Beach – Bahamas
The full list can be found here.
* Originally published in 2019.
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