Please help the next visitor by writing a few lines about the beach, are there toilets? Is it shallow? Is there a jetty or maybe a kiosk?
Beaches close to Clare Island, Louisburgh
Carrowniskey Beach is a vast sandy area with a gentle slope towards the west. This beach is vulnerable to strong currents and rip tides due to its exposed location. It is home to various environments such as sand hills, machair, lagoon-like lakes, and their connected channels. In particular, the Lagoon habitat is of utmost ecological significance. Carrowniskey Beach is part of the Lough Cahasy, Lough Baun, and Roonah Lough Special Area of Conservation (cSAC) and proposed National Heritage Area (pNHA) with Site Code 001529. The bathing space covers approximately 0.8km2 while the beach stretches approximately 1.7km. The designated bathing area's water depth ranges from 0.5m to 5.0m based on tidal movements.
Carrowmore Beach is a beautiful sandy area that includes sandy dune towards the east. However, swimming is restricted in the eastern part of the beach, near Bunowen River and Tulin Beach. Carrowmore Strand is a part of the proposed National Heritage Area and offers activities like surfing, windsurfing, fishing, and more. The bathing area is around 0.3km2 and the water depth varies between 0.5m to 5.0m with tides.
Old Head Beach is a sheltered and sandy beach, backed by rocky cliffs and surrounded by Old Head woodland. The beach is located next to the Old Head SAC/pNHA, which is an extreme development of Atlantic oakwood habitat directly adjacent to the coast. Pilgrimages take place at Croagh Patrick, which is nearby. Old Head Beach offers various activities such as swimming, surfing, water skiing, jet skiing, scuba-diving/snorkelling and fishing. The bathing water area is approximately 0.3km2 and the water depth varies from 0.5m to 5.0m depending on tides.
Dooega Beach, a small crescent shaped cove, is mostly sheltered except towards the south where large swells arise at the eastern rocky outcrop. It lies between the steeply sloping hills of Knockmore (at 337m) and the Menaun Cliffs (at 464m) on either side of Camport Bay. The beach is included in the Keel Machair/Menaun Cliffs SAC (Site Code 001513) and offers activities such as surfing, fishing, and canoeing. With a designated bathing area of 0.06km2, the water depth ranges from 0.5m to 5.0m depending on the tides.
Tránaun Beach, located on Inishturk's south-east coast, is a beautiful and secluded beach nestled in a protected cove. It offers breathtaking views of Mayo and Connemara's mountains and is conveniently located within a short walk from Inishturk Community Centre.
Mulranny Beach, located southwest of Mulranny village, is a popular sandy beach that boasts a strand of Mediterranean heath and features machair sand plains and saltmarsh. The saltmarsh houses a variety of flora and fauna, including flowering plants and birds. The site is home to three areas of conservation and protection, including Owenduff/Nephin Complex, Corraun Plateau, and Clew Bay Complex. Additionally, there is one Special Protection Area for Birds, Owenduff/Nephin Complex. The beach itself is 400 metres long with a bathing area that is approximately 0.37km wide and the bathing water covers an area of about 0.12km2. The depth of the water ranges from 0.5m to 5.0m depending on the tides.
Bertra Beach is a sandy dune area, enclosed by caged stone in the bathing zone. The beach is exposed, with the likelihood of rip tides and strong currents. The sand dunes are a mixture of embryonic and marram dunes, both of which are listed in Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. In the last decade, restoration work has successfully reduced the erosion extent. Bertra Beach is part of the Clew Bay Complex (SAC & SPA) Site Code 001482 and is near to Old Head SAC/pNHA (Site Code 000532). The beach, situated at the base of Croagh Patrick, offers activities including swimming, surfing, canoeing, and angling. The designated bathing area is approximately 1km² in size with depths ranging from 0.5m to 5.0m depending on the tides.
Keel Beach is a sandy beach that is open to the south and can experience strong currents and rip tides. It also features scattered shingle and rocky outcrops that can be submerged during high tide. The beach is home to a variety of plant and wildlife species due to its sand dune and machair habitats. Keel Beach is part of the Achill Head and Keel Machair/Menaun Cliffs SACs, and offers various activities such as surfing, swimming, sailing, fishing, scuba-diving / snorkelling, canoeing, water skiing, and jet skiing. Its designated bathing water has a medium and maximum depth of 0.5m and 5.0m respectively, depending on tide. The beach spans approximately 1.5km2.
Glassilaun, a protected landscape, is a picturesque 600m long sandy beach located between Killary (Little) and Renvyle bays. It is ideal for swimming, snorkelling, and walking. Tullycross, the nearest village, is roughly 6km southwest of the beach.
Renvyle, also called White Strand or Trá Bán, is a stunning sandy beach in Co Galway, facing north. The area boasts a machair and dune system with marram grass on the upper shore leading down to a white sandy beach. Accessed easily via the local road L1101, the beach is a safe swimming spot and is a vital environmental, educational, cultural, and bio-diverse resource that offers habitat to a diverse range of protected flora and fauna, marine life, and plants. Tullycross, the nearest town/village, is located 1.5km away in a southeasterly direction, with access via the L51023-0 local road. This beautiful beach spans over 700m in length.
