Great beaches in Ireland

Forty Foot Bathing Place The Forty Foot, a historical bathing pool on the southern tip of Dublin Bay, is easily reached by a brief walk from t...

Ardnahinch Ardnahinch Beach is situated near Shanagarry in Co Cork, offering stunning views of Ballycotton and the Island lighth...

Killahoey Killahoey beach is a diverse coastal site comprising of sandy beaches, mud flats, sand flats, dunes and a brackish la...

Carrowniskey, Louisburgh Carrowniskey Beach is a vast sandy area with a gentle slope towards the west. This beach is vulnerable to strong curr...

Ballybunnion South Ballybunnion South is a beach that faces west onto the Atlantic ocean, making the water rough at times. A thin strip ...

Owenahincha, Little Island Strand Owenahincha is a gently sloping sandy beach that is backed by sand dunes extending between 70m & 100m. However, i...

Loughshinny Beach Loughshinny Beach is a small, sheltered sandy cove that gently slopes down. It is located in close proximity to Lough...

Ballyrisode Ballyrisode Beach, situated at Toomore in Co Cork, is a sheltered, SAC and NHA designated sandy beach.

Fountainstown Fountainstown Beach slopes gently towards the east and consists of sand and shingle. The beach is flanked by a low ro...

Béal Bán Béal Bán, situated in Ballyferriter Village of Co Kerry near Smerwick Harbour, boasts a peaceful coastline where hors...

Clonea Beach Clonea boasts a sandy beach with a gradual downward slope extending to the low tide mark. During low tide, rock pools...

Annestown Annestown Beach is situated in the Copper Coast of County Waterford, 20 miles from Dungarvan. The sandy beach boasts ...

Half Moon The bathing area is situated halfway on the South Bull Wall and can be accessed from there. Notably, it is not a beach.

Rocky Bay Rocky Bay Beach, situated in Carrigaline, Co Cork is a 300m long, south-facing sandy beach. Access to the beach is th...

River Barrow Bagenalstown River swimming spot at Bagenalstown accessible from the riverside track. The River Barrow, which is a navigation rive...

Carrowmore Beach, Louisburgh Carrowmore Beach is a beautiful sandy area that includes sandy dune towards the east. However, swimming is restricted...

Clare Island, Louisburgh Clare Island Beach stretches from the old pier on the south to the stony shoreline on the north by the Community Cent...

Newtown Cove Newtown Cove, Co Waterford, boasts a stony beach, deep water access via ladders and a slipway. It has a large car par...

Dooneen Pier Dooneen Pier on the Sheep's Head Peninsula in Co Cork is a deep water harbour.

Kilcoole Beach Kilcoole Beach can be accessed by Sea Road to the east of Kilcoole. This expansive shoreline is composed of gravel.

Beach Guide Ireland Source for water samples and information: the Environmental Protection Agency, users of the site and local municipalities.
Source for weather data: Met Éireann© (CC BY 4.0) Disclaimer: Met Éireann does not accept any liability whatsoever for any error or omission in the data, their availability, or for any loss or damage arising from their use.
Source of satellite-read water temperature: Copernicus Sentinel satellite data from the European Space Agency.