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July 2012 Protected by its long harbour wall, Fenit is a sheltered place for a swim. The water was calm when we visited and ideal for a swim along the shore. Nearer to the wall the combination of calm water read more… -
July 2012 The coast road from Castlegregory to Brandon runs alongside a long stretch of beach with at least 3 access points – Stradbally, Kilcummin and Fermoyle. We chose Fermoyle which is a wide expanse of open beach with little read more…
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May 2013 The weather was awful, the water choppy and getting in for our swim was painful. Still, needs must and we stumbled into the blustery waters of Glencar. After driving for what seemed like ages only a swim would read more…
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August 2014 Outdoor swimming pools are rare enough in Ireland but outdoor tidal pools are rarer still. So, the tidal pool in Belmullet is a rarity that is well worth a visit and a swim. Located on a coast road read more…
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May 2013 Our knowledge of places to swim in Roscommon is very limited so we were pleased to visit the attractive surroundings of Lough Key Forest Park. This is a very well maintained facility which also has a visitors centre, read more…
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May 2013 Lough Gill was made famous by W.B. Yeats whose ‘Lake Isle of Innisfree’ inhabits one of its small corners. More recently, a popular Irish- American folk group, led by a Sligo troubadour, read more… -
August 2010 Balllymacaw is a very attractive, out of the way cove, not well signposted and not very well known. If you do find it is well worth the effort. The cove is sheltered by small, rocky cliffs on either read more…
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August 2010 Clonea is a classic seaside resort family beach. When the tide is out there is lots of room for walking and playing, and when it’s in the water is still shallow enough for children to splash and play. read more…
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March 2012 Pollshone is a smaller, less well known neighbour to the more popular Courtown. Some people like it for precisely that reason. The beach here is small, curved and sheltered. The water is usually fairly calm and so it read more…
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February & May 2010 Donabate is only about 15 miles from Dublin city centre but still has a nice country feel to it. For many years, it has been a  popular holiday spot for people from Dublin and beyond, with read more…
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Killiney Beach May 2010 Killiney is a popular family beach and swimming spot on Dublin’s southside. The beach itself is nothing to write home about, as it’s stony, hard to walk on and attracts flies in the summer. However, for read more…
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May 2010 Loughshinny is a small, attractive family beach nestling between a harbour at one end and cliffs at the other. This looks like an old fishing village and there is a small car park just before the harbour. While read more…
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April 2010 For a beach that’s only a 30 minute drive from Dublin city, Portmarnock has a nice, get away from it all feel to it. Yes, it’ s very much an urban environment, but when you get onto that read more…
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Ballyferriter Strand, Smerwick Harbour July 2012 Why this long and attractive beach isn’t properly signposted, when the nearby, much smaller Wine Strand is, must be one of Ireland’s many signposting mysteries. Anyhow, if you do find it, Ballyferriter Strand is read more…
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Lough Cuim, Glanteerasig Forest Park July 2012 Even if you never swim here a visit to this out of the way lake is well worth the effort. Located in a Coillte run forest park, Lough Cuim has a fabulous board read more…
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Glanmore Lake, near Healy Pass July 2009 Glanmore is one of the nicest locations you will find. It can be seen at its best looking down from the Healy Pass, which is a spectacular mountain pass from Cork to Kerry. read more…
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Valentia Island May 2011 Note: this suggestion comes from a local resident in Valentia. We haven’t visited it ourselves so can’t vouch for it, but it sounds nice. Check it out for yourself … I suggest that for regular easy read more…
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Rosses Point is a well known holiday location and its beach is an attractive, family style swimming spot. The beach is divided into two sections, a smaller area near the car park which is more protected by the rocks and read more…
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April 2010 This one is only for experienced walkers and, indeed, experienced and careful swimmers. If you do manage to get there, though, it is well worth the effort. Firrib is located in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains and read more…
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Blue Pool, Glengarriff July 2009 Glengarriff is a popular holiday destination on the Beara Peninsula. While the Peninsula is beautiful it is not full of sandy, attractive beaches so this is one of the better swimming locations in the area read more…
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July 2012 Protected by its long harbour wall, Fenit is a sheltered place for a swim. The water was calm when we visited and ideal for a swim along the shore. Nearer to the wall the combination of calm water read more…
-
July 2012 The coast road from Castlegregory to Brandon runs alongside a long stretch of beach with at least 3 access points – Stradbally, Kilcummin and Fermoyle. We chose Fermoyle which is a wide expanse of open beach with little read more…
-
May 2013 The weather was awful, the water choppy and getting in for our swim was painful. Still, needs must and we stumbled into the blustery waters of Glencar. After driving for what seemed like ages only a swim would read more…
-
August 2014 Outdoor swimming pools are rare enough in Ireland but outdoor tidal pools are rarer still. So, the tidal pool in Belmullet is a rarity that is well worth a visit and a swim. Located on a coast road read more…
-
May 2013 Our knowledge of places to swim in Roscommon is very limited so we were pleased to visit the attractive surroundings of Lough Key Forest Park. This is a very well maintained facility which also has a visitors centre, read more…
-
May 2013 Lough Gill was made famous by W.B. Yeats whose ‘Lake Isle of Innisfree’ inhabits one of its small corners. More recently, a popular Irish- American folk group, led by a Sligo troubadour, read more…
-
August 2010 Balllymacaw is a very attractive, out of the way cove, not well signposted and not very well known. If you do find it is well worth the effort. The cove is sheltered by small, rocky cliffs on either read more…
-
August 2010 Clonea is a classic seaside resort family beach. When the tide is out there is lots of room for walking and playing, and when it’s in the water is still shallow enough for children to splash and play. read more…
-
March 2012 Pollshone is a smaller, less well known neighbour to the more popular Courtown. Some people like it for precisely that reason. The beach here is small, curved and sheltered. The water is usually fairly calm and so it read more…
-
February & May 2010 Donabate is only about 15 miles from Dublin city centre but still has a nice country feel to it. For many years, it has been a  popular holiday spot for people from Dublin and beyond, with read more…
-
Killiney Beach May 2010 Killiney is a popular family beach and swimming spot on Dublin’s southside. The beach itself is nothing to write home about, as it’s stony, hard to walk on and attracts flies in the summer. However, for read more…
-
May 2010 Loughshinny is a small, attractive family beach nestling between a harbour at one end and cliffs at the other. This looks like an old fishing village and there is a small car park just before the harbour. While read more…
-
April 2010 For a beach that’s only a 30 minute drive from Dublin city, Portmarnock has a nice, get away from it all feel to it. Yes, it’ s very much an urban environment, but when you get onto that read more…
-
Ballyferriter Strand, Smerwick Harbour July 2012 Why this long and attractive beach isn’t properly signposted, when the nearby, much smaller Wine Strand is, must be one of Ireland’s many signposting mysteries. Anyhow, if you do find it, Ballyferriter Strand is read more…
-
Lough Cuim, Glanteerasig Forest Park July 2012 Even if you never swim here a visit to this out of the way lake is well worth the effort. Located in a Coillte run forest park, Lough Cuim has a fabulous board read more…
-
Glanmore Lake, near Healy Pass July 2009 Glanmore is one of the nicest locations you will find. It can be seen at its best looking down from the Healy Pass, which is a spectacular mountain pass from Cork to Kerry. read more…
-
Valentia Island May 2011 Note: this suggestion comes from a local resident in Valentia. We haven’t visited it ourselves so can’t vouch for it, but it sounds nice. Check it out for yourself … I suggest that for regular easy read more…
-
Rosses Point is a well known holiday location and its beach is an attractive, family style swimming spot. The beach is divided into two sections, a smaller area near the car park which is more protected by the rocks and read more…
-
April 2010 This one is only for experienced walkers and, indeed, experienced and careful swimmers. If you do manage to get there, though, it is well worth the effort. Firrib is located in the heart of the Wicklow Mountains and read more…
-
Blue Pool, Glengarriff July 2009 Glengarriff is a popular holiday destination on the Beara Peninsula. While the Peninsula is beautiful it is not full of sandy, attractive beaches so this is one of the better swimming locations in the area read more…
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