Connacht
1. Clare Island Beach, Clare Island, Co Mayo
Pirate Queen Gráinne Mhaol was known for fiercely defending Mayo’s Clew Bay – and understandably so, given the region’s outstanding beauty. One of the bay’s crown jewels is Clare Island, and among its broad offering is the enchanting beach located alongside the harbour. While modest in size, it is equipped with a volleyball net and picnic area. Sailors Bar and Hostel is a short walk away. Access to Clare Island is by ferry from Roonagh Pier on mainland Mayo.
- Toilet Facilities: Yes (Community Centre)
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: No (lifebuoys are provided on the beach)
2. Enniscrone Beach, Enniscrone, Co. Sligo
Enniscrone is one of Sligo’s two blue flag beaches (the other is Rosses Point). In addition to swimming, this sublime region straddling the Mayo border offers holidaymakers a range of attractions, including a playground and the seaweed baths for which the seaside town is widely known. Visitors can also explore the sandy beach on horseback or venture along the coastal loop walk while taking in the stunning views of Killala Bay.
- Toilet facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
3. Trá an Dóilín (Coral Beach), Connemara, Co Galway
On the west of Connemara lies Trá an Dóilín; arguably Ireland’s most distinctive beach, it is famed for its translucent waters and unique sand – which is, in fact, very fine and rare coralline algae known as maerl. Surrounded by a wild landscape and craggy coastline, Trá an Dóilín is popular with swimmers, snorkellers and paddleboarders and is located a short distance from Carraroe.
- Toilet facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
4. Keem Beach, Achill Island, Co Mayo
Thanks to its starring role in the Oscar-nominated Banshees of Inisherin, Achill Island’s Keem Beach has become one of the country’s most recognisable beaches. The area is sheltered, thanks to the surrounding high cliffs, and there are access ramps for people with disabilities. Swimmers should expect to share the waters with canoeists, snorkellers and friendly basking sharks.
- Toilet facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
Munster
5. Inchydoney Beach, Clonakilty, Co Cork
West Cork is often named among Europe’s most beautiful regions, thanks, in part, to its stunning coastline. Near Clonakilty, the town famed for its pudding and sausages, is Inchydoney Beach, where dramatic dunes frame vast expanses of sand. The ocean is popular with swimmers and surfers alike – a surf school allows sports enthusiasts to book lessons and hire wetsuits and boards. Several walking routes are nearby, and many are dotted with picnic tables.
- Toilet Facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
6. Glanleam Beach, Valentia, Co Kerry
It may not claim the majesty of other beaches in the Kingdom of Kerry, but the charm of Valentia Island’s secluded Glanleam is its simplicity. Overlooked by Glanleam House and Gardens, with a lighthouse and the uninhabited Beginish Island in the near distance, this miniature paradise is popular with locals who regularly take a dip here. They insist the waters are teeming with health benefits. The area is an international Dark Skies Reserve, meaning Glanleam is just as beautiful at night. Word of its magic is getting out, so expect the beach to be busy during the summer.
- Toilet facilities: No
- Parking available: Yes (limited)
- Blue flag: No
- Summer lifeguard: No
7. Spanish Point Beach, Spanish Point, Co Clare
The name of one of Co Clare’s most popular beaches, Spanish Point, refers to the wrecking of some ships of the Spanish Armada off the coast. While the west of Ireland is often subjected to blustery winds, just like in the 16th century, this beach is ideally sheltered for family fun, such as sandcastle-building and picnics. Aspiring surfers can enrol in one of the surf schools in the area.
- Toilet Facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
8. Counsellors’ Strand, Dunmore East, Co Waterford
Located approximately 15km southeast of Waterford city in Dunmore East is Counsellors’ Strand, a picturesque, sheltered cove where visitors can enjoy swimming or snorkelling. The surrounding whitewashed stone cottages contrast beautifully with the turquoise sea waters. Counsellor’s Strand is one of two beaches in the village and is accessible via a steep slipway. Be wary of the tide, which comes right in and covers the beach.
- Toilet Facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
Leinster
9. Velvet Strand Beach, Portmarnock, Co Dublin
The elegant Velvet Strand Beach extends over 8km near the north Dublin town of Portmarnock. Framed by Howth Peninsula, Ireland’s Eye and Lambay Island, the spot is a top choice for swimmers, walkers, horse riders and kite surfers, thanks to uninterrupted beach and clear waters. Overhead, you’ll notice a steady stream of planes flying into nearby Dublin Airport, but that’s not the strand’s only connection to aviation. Here, in 1930, the Southern Cross took off for the first east-west Atlantic crossing.
- Toilet facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: No
10. The Little Strand, Clogherhead, Co Louth
Close to Clogherhead’s famous Oriel Pier is Little Strand. The calm waters are particularly suitable for swimmers – ask the grey seals or black guillemots who call the area home. Near the beach is Clogherhead headland, which is listed as an area of outstanding natural beauty because it supports rare, coastal heathland vegetation. Squint and you’ll see the Cooley and Mourne Mountains to the north and Lambay Island to the south.
- Toilet facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
11. Rosslare Strand, Rosslare, Co Wexford
While the 26km-long Curracloe Beach might enjoy the lion’s share of attention in Wexford after its prominent role in Saving Private Ryan, there are several other fantastic options for swimmers in the sunny southeast. Rosslare Strand is a mixture of sand and stone, all divided by timber breakwaters. Various walkways provide access to the main beach, and Kelly’s Resort, one of the best-known family hotels in the region, is nearby.
- Toilet facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
12. Brittas Bay, Co Wicklow
Wicklow might be known as the Garden of Ireland, but the county’s beaches are as beautiful as its rich landscape. Brittas Bay has long been enchanting visitors with its 5km of powdery sand, ferns and grassland areas. The dunes are home to many interesting wildlife species and plants. Particularly popular with Dubliners, Brittas Bay is ideal for bathing, surfing, walking and horse riding.
- Toilet facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
Ulster
13. Carrickfinn, Annagry, Co Donegal
The people of Donegal will proudly tell you that the county enjoys the highest number of blue flag beaches in Ireland. And while Cork and Mayo might argue differently, they also claim the longest coastline in the country, meaning visitors are never too far from a dip in the ocean. Carrickfinn Beach, near the Gaeltacht town of Annagry, is overseen by planes landing at Donegal Airport and is renowned for being clean, safe and family friendly.
Toilet facilities: Yes
Parking available: Yes
Blue flag: Yes
Summer lifeguard: Yes
14. Newcastle Beach, Newcastle, Co Down
You know a place is worth visiting if it’s been written about in song. Co Down’s delightful seaside resort of Newcastle was made famous by Percy French’s The Mountains of Mourne (“Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea”). The beach is popular with swimmers and sunbathers and provides the perfect setting for the age-old bucket-and-spade activities. The promenade is lined with shops, restaurants and amusement arcades, and there are also two outdoor swimming pools for those reluctant to brave the open waters. Another option nearby is Murlough, a blue flag beach.
- Toilet facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: No
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
15. Benone Strand, Limavady, Co Derry
If you’ve seen photographs of Northern Ireland’s coastline, they probably included Derry’s Benone Strand, overlooked by the 18th-century Mussenden Temple, one of the region’s most well-known structures. The clean sands are free from rocks, shingles and seaweed and are complemented by glorious dunes. Additionally, Benone Strand is an inclusive beach run in partnership with Northern Ireland’s Mae Murray Foundation, allowing people of all ages and abilities to visit. Inclusive beaches offer free equipment loan schemes, including all-terrain wheelchairs and mobility aids.
- Toilet facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
16. Whiterocks Beach, Portrush, Co Antrim
England might have the White Cliffs of Dover, but Northern Ireland has Whiterocks Coastal Path, which unfolds from Curran Strand at Portrush to Dunluce Castle. Wind and weather have carved various shapes into the soft rock for millenniums, making it one of the stunning sections of the Causeway Coastal Route. Whiterocks Beach is a magnet for water sports enthusiasts, and a seasonal surf outlet rents equipment. A newly opened section of the cliff path offers stunning views east and west.
- Toilet facilities: Yes
- Parking available: Yes
- Blue flag: Yes
- Summer lifeguard: Yes
Top water safety tips
- When entering the water, ensure you are an experienced swimmer or with someone who is experienced.
- Stay within your depth and try to swim adjacent to the shoreline.
- Stay calm, conserve your energy, and don’t fight the current. Do not drink alcohol before swimming.
- Inform others on shore of your plans and time of return, and note the nearest ring buoy in case of emergency.
- Where possible, swim at designated lifeguarded waterways and beaches. Ask locals and lifeguards for advice in unfamiliar areas.
For additional information on Irish beaches and water safety, visit: discoverireland.ie, discovernorthernireland.com and watersafety.ie
