If it's a wild and beautiful beach you're after, then it seems the Kingdom of Kerry is the place to go, having scooped four of the top ten beaches in Ireland according to TripAdvisor in their annual Travellers’ Choice “Best Beaches” survey .
Irish beaches may not have made it into the top 25 beaches in Europe (La Concha Beach in San Sebastian in Spain was the favourite), with Baia Do Sancho Beach in Brazil named as the best beach in the world, but we still have some exceptionally windswept strands.
Banna Strand in Tralee, Co Kerry came out on top in Ireland's best beaches of 2017, taking the crown from previous three-years-in-a-row winner Inchydoney, Co Cork.
All but three of the top 10 – Strandhill, Coumeenoole and Dog’s Bay – were awarded Blue Flag bathing status in 2016, meaning they met the requirements of the EU Bathing Water Directive.
Here's the list in full - start planning those summer beach trips now.
1. Banna Strand, Co Kerry
This Atlantic Ocean beach features the mountains of the Dingle Peninsula in the horizon.
Historically, Banna Strand is associated with Roger Casement who was captured on 21 April 1916, having landed from a German U-Boat. Casement was involved in an attempt to land arms for Irish Republicans from the German vessel the Aud.
2. Inchydoney beach, Co Cork
The Blue Flag beach at Inchydoney Island, just a few miles from Clonakilty, is known as a surfer's paradise.
Expect vast expanses of sand, dunes, and secret little coves along the coastline.
3. Derrynane beach, Co Kerry
Derrynane Beach is a lovely sheltered sandy beach located right on the Ring of Kerry with a natural harbour. It is a Blue Flag Beach which is lifeguarded during the bathing season, making it an ideal family stop-off.
4. Inch beach, Co Kerry
Fun fact: Inch strand is famous for being the location of the films ‘Ryan’s Daughter’ and ‘The Playboy of the Western World.’
5. Strandhill, Co Sligo
An area of great natural beauty located just five miles west of Sligo town with panoramic views of Knocknarea and Benbulben, this is another popular surfing spot.
Just be advised: Due to dangerous currents and tides, it is recommended not to swim from this beach.
6. Coumeenoole beach, Co Kerry
The hills rising either side of the cove are spotted with old stone walls, sheep, cottages and fields, making this a charming little spot.
7. Barleycove beach, Co Cork
This is a remote beach, and the Barleycove area has a large sandy beach backed by sand dunes.
Situated between two headlands on the Mizen Peninsula in West Cork, it also has an interesting floating bridge in place reduce visitor impact on natural surroundings.
8. Curracloe beach, Co Wexford
One of the most popular beaches in Ireland, its 7-mile-long beach is famous for its soft and fine sand. You might recognise this as the site where the epic D-Day scene from Saving Private Ryan was filmed.
9. Narin/Portnoo beach, Co Donegal
Narin is a sheltered cove beach approximately 2km long on the Atlantic coast of Ireland.
It boasts Blue Flag status, and looking out to sea the first sight is the island of Inishkeel. Impressive.
10. Dog’s Bay beach, Co Galway
Gurteen Beach and Dog’s Bay lie back to back forming a tombolo jutting out into the Atlantic Ocean.
Perfectly sheltered with crystal clear waters, Dog's Bay was a landmark destination of many an Irish family's holidays.