Beaches and coastlines

There is no fee to access public beaches in Ireland. You can visit most beaches in Ireland. However, access to some parts of the coastline may be privately owned.

Planning your visit to the beach

If you are planning a visit to the beach, you can check if the beach has been awarded a Blue Flag. Beaches are awarded a blue flag if they have good water quality, safety facilities and services. Read more about Blue Flag beaches.

You can swim in the sea in many places around the Irish coast. It is important to prepare yourself before swimming by finding out about tides, bathing water quality and swimming bans before you swim.

You may want to check the local tides as many swimming areas need a high tide to enjoy swimming there. You can read more about the types of tides and safety around tides.

You can find bathing areas managed by local authorities using the Environmental Protection Agency’s map on beaches.ie.

Swim Ireland also has an open swim map which includes some more swimming areas that are not managed by local authorities.

Safe sea swimming

Drowning is a real danger even if you know how to swim. It is important to learn how to swim before going into the sea. You should also follow some of these tips for safe sea swimming:

• Don’t swim alone
• Don’t swim just after eating
• Don’t swim when you’re tired
• Swim parallel and close to the shore
• Do what the lifeguard tells you
• Obey the signs and flags on the beach

Also, remember that it is much more dangerous if you are sea swimming in the winter than in the summer.

If you find yourself in the water unexpectedly or get into difficulty, you should try to float by following the Float to Live steps.

If you see someone in difficulty in the sea:

1. Call for help - dial 112 and ask for the coast guard or shout for a lifeguard
2. Throw them something that floats like a ringbouy that they can hold onto
3. Do not go into the water yourself. Too many people drown trying to save others.

Read more about safe swimming in the sea from Water Safety Ireland.

Ringbouys

Ringbouys are available at locations where people may be at risk of drowning. Ringbouys are there to help people who get into difficulty in water. It is an offence to take or misuse a ringbouy. You can report a missing ringbuoy on watersafety.ie.

Lifeguards

Lifeguards are at certain beaches on weekends during June, and full time in July and August. You can check which locations have a lifegaurd and at what times. It is safer to swim near a lifeguard. It is important to always do what they tell you.

What do flags mean at the beach?

When you visit a beach, you’ll see signs with important safety information about the beach and if it is safe to swim. If the beach has lifeguards, you’ll also see flags that tell you where it is safe to swim.

• Red flags only mean do not swim
• Between the red and yellow flags is safe to swim
• Between black and white checkerboard flags it is safe to surf and windsurf, but not swim

Check the different signs and flags you may see at the beach.

When is it not safe to get into the water?

• If you can’t swim
• Where there are only red flags
• Where there are signs telling you to avoid the water
• If there is no lifeguard
• If you are swimming alone
• In a rip current area
• After drinking alcohol or eating food
• When it is dark
• If you see or hear a storm

Rip currents are dangerous parts of water that can bring you out to sea very quickly. A rip current often looks like an area of darker water and if there are waves, they will break on either side, but not directly in the rip. If you find yourself caught in a rip current, remain calm, swim parallel to the beach and do not try to swim against the current. If you can’t do this, raise your arm and shout for a lifeguard. Read more about rip currents.

Water Safety Ireland has a guide to open water swimming. If you are swimming in water colder than 15 C you can read about how to avoid the dangers of cold water hypothermia. You can check the current temperature of the sea and the forecasted sea temperature in your area.

Bathing water quality

Your local authority tests the water at identified bathing areas every month during the bathing season, which runs from 1 June to 15 September each year.

Some local authorities test the water more often to make sure it is safe to swim in. You can see the results of the yearly water quality tests as well as the tests during the bathing season at or on your local authority website.

Sometimes, a local authority will restrict swimming in a bathing area because the water quality is polluted, or the conditions are unsafe.

You should not swim or take part in recreational water activities for at least 48 hours after heavy rainfall to prevent the risk of getting sick. Contamination of bathing water from sewage can happen after heavy rainfall and this can make you sick. This 48-hour rule applies even if the local authority website shows that the water is safe, as the sample used to determine this may be a few days or weeks old.

Coastal walks

There are many coastal walks in Ireland. Before going for your walk, always check the weather forecast for any weather warnings. Check the time of the tides to avoid becoming stranded because of tides. Have a charged phone so you can call for help if you get stranded, injured or need help.

Visit for walks around lakes, canals and rivers. Read more about walking and rambling in Ireland.

You can find information on beaches, cliff walks and coastal walks along the west coast of Ireland on the Wild Atlantic Way website.

You can check if the beach you are visiting has a Green Coast Award. The award is for beaches which have excellent water quality and environment.

Going out to sea on a boat

If you are in danger on a boat and it has a radio you can use channel 16 to tell the operator your location. If you do not have a radio, use your phone to call 112 or 999 and ask for the Coast Guard.

If you are mooring a boat or other sea vessel on the Irish coast, you need permission with a lease or license. Find out how to get a foreshore lease or licence.

There are lots of other water sports you can enjoy around Ireland, such as surfing, kite-surfing, paddling boarding, canoeing.

Water Safety Ireland’s has a safe surfing tips poster with information on how to stay safe when surfing. You can also read a guide to safe kite-surfing.

Can I walk my dog on a beach in Ireland?

Not all beaches are dog-friendly and some may have restrictions. Some beaches may:

• Allow dogs at certain times only
• Allow dogs which are kept on leads
• Not allow dogs at any time

You should check the beach’s local authority website before visiting to check if there are any restrictions in place.

Dogs are not allowed on some Blue Flag beach areas during the bathing season, which runs from 1 June to 15 September each year). This is because bathing water can be contaminated by dog poo. Put your dog poo in the bin when you are at the beach. If you cannot find a public bin or it is full, bring your litter home.

You have to keep your dog under control on nearby parking areas, walkways and promenades in the beach area. Read more about the rules around owning a dog.

Some local authorities allow dogs on Blue Flag beaches at certain times. You can check the rules about dogs on the beach and other beach bye-laws on your local authority’s website.

You cannot take natural items you find on beaches in Ireland. This includes sand, shells or seaweed. You need a foreshore license to harvest seaweed on beaches in Ireland.

Jellyfish

Jellyfish are swimming sea animals with an umbrella-shaped bell and trailing tentacles that sting. Jellyfish stings can be painful, but most are not emergencies in Ireland. With a typical sting, you may have:

• Pain
• Red marks
• Itching
• Numbness
• Tingling

Check the Jellyfish Identifying card (pdf) and read about how to treat a jelly-fish sting.

Venomous weever fish

Venomous weever fish are small fish that are usually buried under the sand on Irish beaches where the water is shallow. If you step on a weever fish, it’s sting can be extremely painful. It usually does not cause permanent damage.

Weever fish are difficult to see. Try to avoid being stung by not swimming 1 to 2 hours before and after low water and wearing footwear if you are walking or swimming on the beach near low water. Read more about venomous weever fish and how to treat a sting.

Seals

If you see a seal on the beach, stay at a distance from it and do not feed it. Avoid swimming in the water if they are close to your bathing area. If you are on a boat, you should not feed seals, as a large grey seal could capsize a small boat. If you find a stranded, injured or entangled seal contact Seal Rescue Ireland.

Beached sea-animals

If you find a stranded, injured or entangled whale, porpoise or dolphin you can call the ORCA Ireland helpline. Make sure to give them as much information as possible about the animal’s location and condition. Keep away from the animal and make sure that your dog is on a lead.

Other wildlife

Some beaches have areas where wildlife is protected. Look out for signs asking you to keep out of certain areas. There are birds that nest on the ground and are at risk from people and dogs. You should keep your dog on a lead on these beaches during nesting season, which is between March and August.

Local authorities

You can find contact details of the beach and coastline units of your local authority on Beaches.ie.

You can find more information on your local authority’s website.

Irish Coast Guard

In an emergency, dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard