There is no better way to spend a hot summer’s afternoon with the family than a trip to the beach. The coast of Ireland offers several attractive beaches perfect for a family day out and on those occasional hot days it’s nice to bring the kids for a swim in beautiful Irish waters. So if you want a sandy beach where you can bring the kids for a swim then here is a list of the top 5 beaches for swimming in Ireland.
Inch, Co. Kerry
The Blue Flag Inch Beach spans for 5 kilometres and is the perfect place for the family to have lots of fun. The beach is a sand spit jutting into the sea between Dingle Harbour and Castlemaine Harbour, where Ryan's Daughter was famously filmed. There is plenty of space for the kids to run around and stunning walking routes for the grown ups to enjoy. The water is perfectly safe for swimming and all other types of water sports including surfing, kayaking and fishing.
Narin, Portnoo, Co Donegal
Narin Beach stretches across 3 miles with fabulous white sand to play around in. It is also a great place to take toddlers and small children as there are plenty of rock pools where they can paddle in. The beach is perfectly safe for swimming and when the tide is out you can walk over to the Island of Inniskeel. There you will find an old graveyard and a small derelict church.
Curracloe, Wexford, Co Wexford
Curracloe beach is not only a beautiful spot for your family day trip but it is also a must-see for movie lovers. It was where the opening sequence of Stephen Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan was filmed and so is a popular destination for tourists. It is the perfect location for those who enjoy a dip in the ocean or if you feel like a relaxing walk then you can stroll around the Raven Nature Reserve.
Dunmore East, Co Waterford
Dunmore East offers not one, but two beaches both equally picturesque. Lawlors Strand is east-facing with a view of the Suir estuary to Hook Head lighthouse while Counsellors Strand faces south. Both beaches are popular spots for the locals with lovely hillside surroundings and both are nice bathing locations.
Gurteen Bay/Dog's Bay, Connemara, Co Galway
These beaches are located just a few miles from the lovely village of Rooundstone in Connemara and are ideal destinations for those who enjoy the outdoors. With picturesque walks and lovely water for swimming, both Dogs Bay and Gurteen Bay offer everything you would want for a family day out. These beaches are the finest on the West Coast and lie back to back with stretches of coastline and stunning views of the countryside. Both beaches are relatively sheltered from currents and so are ideal for swimming.
