Ireland’s Best Beaches
Make the most of the sunshine!
Get the wind in your hair and sand in your toes with our pick of Ireland’s best beaches... what do you think of our picks?
Best for beauty
1. Dog’s Bay, Co. Galway
Dog’s Bay, Connemara: Just a couple of kilometres from the village of Roundstone on the Ballyconneely Peninsula you’ll find two of the sweetest beaches on the Wild Atlantic Way lying back to back. Both Dog’s Bay and Gurteen Bay are good for walking and swimming but it’s the snow-white sands of the former that do it for us.
Not so much a beach as a long crescent of sand back-toback with another beaut of a silvery bay, Gurteen. Both have white sand made of tiny particles of seashell and between them you’ll always find shelter from the summer breeze. Après beach: Rent kayaks at Gurteen beach by the car park.
2. Inchavore, Lough Dan, Co. Wicklow
Cling to the side, alright, it’s a lakeside beach, and you have to clamber down to it, but with the steep sides of Inchavore valley rising around you, the lake stretching before you, birch trees behind you, this is a fantastic beach for a picnic and chilly swim - and chances are you’ll have it all to yourself.
Getting there: Follow the instructions for Inchavore Valley Short Hike onloughdan.com.
Après beach: Warm up by going trekking with Wicklow Equestrian. wicklowequestrian.ie.
3. Inchdoney, Co. Cork
Follow the road from Cork to Clonakilty and just beyond you’ll find Inchdoney Island, a blob of land surrounded by crystal clear Blue-Flagged waters. Sheltered by land on three sides, it has views out over Clonakilty Bay to the south and here you can walk the sandy shore and watch the long rollers come in from the Atlantic.
Après beach: Boyne organise a sea-foraging-kayak trip with Atlantic Sea Kayaking from Union Hall, Cork city or Skibbereen. atlanticseakayaking.com
4. Keem Bay, Co. Mayo
WATCH: 25-foot shark swimming “almost daily” in Achill Island’s Keem Bay
For sheer drop-dead beauty, Keem beach on Achill
Island is the landscape queen. Scraped out of the cliffs of Benmore to the west and Croaghaun on the east, it is a little handkerchief of a beach that was once a basking shark fishery and holds a Blue Flag.
Après beach: Go off track to explore Achill’s mountains and
sea cliffs with expert guides at Achill Surf. achillsurf.com Eat: Pure Magic Lodge for pizza. puremagic.ie
5. Trá an Doilín, Co. Galway
Look closely and you’ll see that the beach at Trá an Doilín in the heart of the Connemara Gaeltacht is made of tiny shards of coral in different pastel shades. Crystal clear water for snorkelling, seaweed drifts for foragers, large stones for sunbathers to stretch out on, rock pools for young fisherfolk. Perfect.
Best for families
6. Fanore, Co. Clare
If the grey limestone flags of the Burren begin to pall, make a break for the black and golden shores of Fanore beach (above). The gold, says one theory, comes from iron oxide coating the minuscule shell fragments that make up the beach - it’s all about geology in this part of the world - and get a fresh perspective on the unique landscape.
Après beach: Visit Craggy Island and Father Ted’s house in real life it’s a farm serving a fine brew. Ah, go on, go on. fathertedshouse.com
7. Tyrella, Co. Down
Laden with awards - Blue Flag, Green Coast and more Tyrella beach is heavenly for kids, with enough sand to build a military complex, bury dad or sculpt animals, and shallow warm(ish) water good for paddlers. And then there’s that view of the Mourne Mountains in the distance. Après beach Visit Inch Abbey, an 8th-century ruin, perfect for picnics. Eat Get your sandwiches at The Daily Grind in Downpatrick, there’s a very good reason why locals queue. dailygrind.ie
8. Brittas Bay, Co. Wicklow
Scene of many a Dubliner’s golden summer memories, Brittas Bay is a 5km stretch of silvery beach backed by grassy dunes. Head for south Brittas, it has a Blue Flag. Even in a heatwave, you’ll still find plenty of towel room and the rollers are gentle and kid-friendly.
Parking: €4; as well as roadside parking if you don’t mind a walk.
9. Sandycove, Co. Dublin
Within a beach ball’s throw of each other are two muchloved Dublin waterholes, Sandycove Beach and the Forty Foot. Families flock to Sandycove for its gently sloping beach and calm waters, while sunbathers spread their towels on the grassy banks above. Around the corner, the Forty Foot is a rocky cove where teenagers dare each other to leap off the high rock into the water below, and hardy swimmers do laps to Dalkey Island and back.
Après beach: Wear the kids out with a run around the People’s Park in Dun Laoghaire, 10 minutes walk, and a clamber in the playground.
10. Velvet Strand, Portmarnock, Co. Dublin
Dublin’s northside is spoilt for choice when it comes to beaches. The vast flats of Dollymount Strand are beautiful but very exposed, which is why kite-riders flock there. For a day’s sunshine and splashing, try Portmarnock’s 5km sandy shoreline instead and position the deckchair for knockout views of Howth Head and Ireland’s Eye. Park at the South Beach car park and follow the path through the dunes to avoid the jams.
Après beach: Go straight to the picturesque fishing village of Howth to pick up
11. Barleycove, Co. Cork
on Childhood beaches like memories Barleycove are and made when of long the sun summer shines days this and stunner golden rivals sands. any A Caribbean floating bridge beach for from turquoise the car park waters to the beach leapfrogs the delicate dune’s eco-system and is a thrill for kids. Unpack the cooler, set up the deckchair and relax, the gently shelving beach makes this a safe spot for kids to paddle and splash. Après southernmost beach: Visit tip of Mizen the peninsula Head Signal for the Station thrill on of the pretending to be radio hams. mizenhead.net
12. Ballycastle, Co. Antrim
Get the sand between your toes at Ballycastle, an old-style bucket-and-spade beach at the northern end of the Glens of Antrim. Stroll towards brooding Fairhead and you come to Pans Rocks, old iron salt pans that jut into the sea. Spot the carved face on one lump of rock or follow the steps chiselled out of the rock into the Devil’s Churn, an underwater tunnel. Very Famous Five.
Après beach: Take a full-day or half-day expedition with Ballycastle Charters. (048) 2076-2074.
Eat: It’s hard to beat family-run Morton’s Fish & Chip Shop, who catch their own the fish daily, 048 2076 1100.
13. Garrettstown, Co Cork
A family favourite, Garrettstown has sand for digging holes, rock pools for shrimping, dunes for exploring and views of the Old Head of Kinsale to add a splash of drama to a day’s beachcombing.
Après beach: Inject some thrill into the day, coasteering with Garrettstown Surf School & Coasteering. surfgtown. com
14. Portstewart, Co. Derry
Ever since Victorian times, Portstewart has been a genteel seaside resort, with holiday makers drawn no doubt to the three kilometres of sandy beach that make up Portstewart Strand and the bracing water. Nowadays, though, it’s a big draw for surfers and nature lovers.
Après beach: Sway across Carrick-a-rede rope bridge (nationaltrust.org.uk) which connects the mainland to an island, or cycle along the path to sister seaside town of Portrush for an ice cream.
Best for island lovers
15. Trá Bán, Great Blasket, Co. Kerry
Don’t let reading Peig at school put you off visiting the island she married onto. The Great Blasket is a lovely wilderness to explore, picnic and enjoy the views back to Dún Chaoin on the mainland (where the Blasket Centre is located), from lovely sandy Trá Bán
Après beach: Explore the island and then the teeming waters around it with Marine Tours (marinetours.ie).
16. East End Beach, Inishbofin
Travel back in time with a trip to Inishbofin. Make for East End, a sheltered beach in a horseshoe bay with views back to Mayo and Galway. Its clear calm waters are great for kids to practice the doggy paddle, puttering about in a kayak with a mackerel line, or just floating on your back and counting the clouds.
Getting there Three ferries leave from Cleggan daily in summer. (095 45819 / 086 171 8829). inishbofinislanddiscovery.com
Parking: At Cleggan harbour.
Après beach :Sit and drink in the scenery.
17. Cartystown beach, Coney Island, Co. Sligo
Between Rosses Point and buzzing Strandhill (whose own beach is surf heaven) lies the original Coney Island, with a lovely bather’s beach, Cartystown. The island is tidal, so you can drive or walk via Cummeen Strand at low tide, or take a boat trip from the pier at Rosses Point. Check the tidal tables first though.tidetimes.org.uk
Après beach: Have a pint at the island’s only bar, McGowans, or take a surf lesson at Strandhill with iSurfIreland. isurfireland.com
Best for swimmers 18. Badger’s Cove, Dunmore East, Co. Waterford
Twisting steps lead down to a small sandy cove, backed by a cave and cliffs where kittiwakes nest and the water calls to swimmers. And if that’s not to your liking, this pretty village has plenty more bathing coves to choose from - ladies’ cove, men’s cove, and if you’re going the full-back crawl, the BlueFlagged Counsellor’s Strand by the golf course.
Après beach: Rent a kayak at Dunmore East Adventure Centre. dunmoreadventure.com
19. Killiney Beach, Co. Dublin
On a hot summer’s evening, with towel and togs tucked under your arm, Killiney beach is the place to head for a dip post-work. Admittedly, it’s stony, but that great sweep of bay is just a 30-minute Dart journey from the city centre. The sweet spot is White Rock, at the Dublin end of the crescent, at high tide a rocky outcrop cuts it off from the rest of the beach.
Après beach: Cross Vico Road and climb up to the top of Killiney Hill, the views will feed the soul.
Best for Surfers
20. Rossnowlagh, Co. Donegal
Facing westward into the Atlantic, Rossnowlagh Beach has seen waves up to 7m high. No surprise then, that surfers love it and it’s a good spot for beginners (try Fin McCool Surf School; donegalsurfing.com). But so do families who can drive cars laden with buggies, windbreaks and deckchairs on to the beach and set up picnic blankets nearby to break sandcastle-building records or dabble in the water.
Après beach: Walk the Creevy Coastal Path running from Rossnowlagh to Ballyshannon, about 16km, along the clifftops, stop at Creevy Pier Hotel for refuelling.
21. Magheroarty, Co. Donegal
Magheroarty is the poster girl for beaches in a county where they would be storybook perfect if only the weather would oblige. Surfers heart its big breakers and empty waters, walkers love the views of Inishbofin and Tory islands.
Après beach: Drive to Falcarragh or Marble Hill for a surf lesson with Narosa. narosalife.com
22. Lahinch, Co. Clare
Lahinch has a few claims to fame. On land, the world-class links course is a hit with golfers, while along the shoreline, neoprene-coated surfers carve up the waves no matter what the weather. Yet another fine reason to visit this part of the world comes out of the sea - fantastic fish. Visit Vaughan’s Anchor Inn up the road for a plate of locally caught seafood served up just fine.
Après beach: Round of golf ? Book a game at Lahinch Golf Club. lahinchgolf.com