Plages et côtes en Irlande

Beaches and Coastal Gems

Ireland's coastline features a diverse range of maritime landmarks, from the white shell sands of Dogs Bay in Connemara to the 19th-century Fanad Head Lighthouse in Donegal. This collection highlights Blue Flag beaches like Keem and Keel on Achill Island, alongside historic structures such as the Hook Lighthouse, one of the world's oldest operational beacons. Many sites offer specific activities including surfing at Inch Beach or exploring the 16th-century fort foundations at Cromwell Point on Valentia Island.

Beaches and Coastal Gems — Carte

LuciaRuane / CC BY-SA 4.0

A

Keem Beach

Keem Bay is located past Dooagh village in the west of Achill Island in County Mayo, Ireland. It contains a Blue Flag beach.

Pedelecs / CC BY-SA 3.0

B

Inch Beach

A five-kilometer sand spit on the Dingle Peninsula that allows vehicle access directly onto the beach. It is a frequent location for surfing, sea angling, and kite surfing.

Heather Myers / CC-BY-SA

C

Rossbeigh Beach

A seven-kilometer sandy spit on the Iveragh Peninsula featuring extensive sand dunes and views across Dingle Bay towards the Slieve Mish Mountains.

Niki.L / CC BY 3.0

D

Dogs Bay Beach

Located near Roundstone, this horseshoe-shaped bay is known for its white sand composed entirely of crushed microscopic seashells, known as foraminifera, rather than traditional quartz.

Candace Perry / CC-BY-SA

E

Coumeenoole Bay

Situated on the Slea Head Drive, this beach is framed by dramatic cliffs with views of the Blasket Islands. Swimming is prohibited here due to exceptionally strong offshore currents.

Peter Theis / CC-BY-SA

F

Derrynane Beach

A sheltered sandy beach on the Ring of Kerry adjacent to the historic Derrynane House. At low tide, visitors can walk across the sand to explore the ruins on Abbey Island.

Lisa Blad / CC BY-SA 4.0

G

Poolbeg Lighthouse

Poolbeg Lighthouse is an active aid to navigation at the mouth of the River Liffey, near Poolbeg in Dublin, Ireland.

Ent-ente / CC BY-SA 3.0

H

Mizen Head Lighthouse

Mizen Head is traditionally regarded as the most southerly point of mainland Ireland although Brow Head is the actual southernmost point.

Andreas F. Borchert / CC BY-SA 3.0 de

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Fanad Head Lighthouse

Commissioned in 1817 following a shipwreck in Lough Swilly, this working lighthouse offers guided tours and accommodation in the original keepers' dwellings on the Donegal coast.

Bananenfalter / CC0

J

Hook Lighthouse Visitors Center

The Hook Lighthouse is a building situated on Hook Head at the tip of the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford, in Ireland.

Kevin Carey / CC-BY-SA

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Cromwell Point Lighthouse

Established in 1841 on Valentia Island, this lighthouse sits within the footprint of a 16th-century fort. It serves as a key navigational aid for the entrance to Valentia Harbour.

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Keel Beach

A four-kilometer beach at the base of the Minaun Cliffs on Achill Island. It is a major hub for surfing and windsurfing due to its consistent Atlantic swells.

M

Murder Hole Beach

Boyeeghter Strand or Boyeeghter Bay, commonly known as Murder Hole Beach, is a beach situated on the Melmore head peninsula beside…

N

Tragumna

Six kilometeres of fine sand with scenic views of fine Irish countryside in the background.

John M / CC BY-SA 2.0

O

Clonea Strand

A popular and very lovely beach boasting a blue flag. When the tide is low the beach expands into the vast sea.

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Sheep's Head Lighthouse

A small lighthouse built in 1968 at the extremity of the Sheep's Head Peninsula. It is accessible via a two-kilometer walking trail offering views of Bantry Bay and Dunmanus Bay.

Q

Portsalon Beach

Also known as Ballymastocker Bay, this expansive beach on the Fanad Peninsula offers views of the Inishowen mountains and was once ranked among the most beautiful beaches in the world.

R

Boyce's Bay

A small, sheltered sandy cove on the eastern side of the Hook Peninsula, providing a quiet alternative to the larger beaches in County Wexford.

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Ballycurrin Lighthouse

A rare example of an inland lighthouse, this 18th-century stone structure was built on the shores of Lough Corrib to guide timber-carrying boats across the lake.