81% of Beaches Have Excellent Water Quality for Swimming

81% of Ireland's beaches have an 'excellent' bathing water quality.

The latest report from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for 2024, shows 96% of beaches are of 'sufficient' quality to swim at,

Bathing Water Quality report found 145 of 151 beaches met or exceeded the minimum standard of bathing water quality in 2024, an increase of two on 2023.

However, two beaches, Lady's Bay in Buncrana in Co. Donegal and Sandymount Strand Dublin failed to meet the minimum water standard. Five beaches were found to have poor bathing water quality in 2023.

The EPA reports discharges from wastewater overflows, contamination from dog fouling, and foul drain misconnections are the main issue at beaches with poor water quality.

Dr Eimear Cotter, Director of the EPA’s Office of Evidence and Assessment, said heavy rainfall is causing issues.

"Local authorities really need to be aware of this. They need to manage the bathing waters in the context of a changing climate with more extreme rainfall.

"What I mean by that is better management of stormwater overflows, sewage overflows, and better management of runoff from agricultural lands, from urban areas, particularly those that are adjacent to water courses".

Little Hands Exploring The Beach Sand. Image: Alamy

Loughshinny Beach in Co. Dublin, improved from 'poor' in 2023 to 'Sufficient' in 2024 and the all-season bathing restriction has been lifted.

There were three new bathing waters identified in 2024. These were Half-Moon in Co Dublin, Dromineer Lake in Co. Tipperary and The Cove, Greystones in Co. Wicklow.

Half-Moon in Co. Dublin was classified for the first time with ‘excellent’ quality, while the other two are expected to be classified next year when a sufficient number of samples have been taken.

The EPA is encouraging people to check beaches.ie for the latest information on water quality during the bathing season, which runs from 1st of June to 15th of September.