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 the beach is smallish it is well protected. The water is clear and shallow, so it’s a good place for kids to splash around. A nice place for families to visit on a good summers day.
From Dublin take the M1 Belfast road. Leave this at exit 4 where you take the R132 for Skerries. Follow the Skerries signposts all the way and before the town watch out for a right turn signposted Loughshinney. Follow the signposts which will take you to the car park.
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 long expanse of beach and look over to Lambay Island and Ireland’s Eye you can quickly forget the city stresses.
Portmarnock beach is both long and wide. It must be at least 4 kilometres in length and is great for walkers. There is plenty of space for children to play and it’s also a popular location for kite flyers, horse riders and the occasional wind surfer. The water is shallow and good for children swimming as they aren’t out of their depth too quickly.
As you go up the beach you move more into grassy, sand dune territory where you can find some shelter. Otherwise the beach is open and exposed.
The beach also has the advantage of being backed onto by the world famous Portmarnock Golf Club and you can scramble up the dunes to peek into this still men only domain.
The area is well served with a couple of hotels. There is also a good, free public car park and decent toilets at the entrance . Blue Flag beach.
Lifeguards are on duty during the summer months.
The beach is buggy accessible but we didn’ t see a wheelchair access.
From Dublin city it’s about a 30 minute drive on the R106 along the seafront and then a sign-posted left turn onto the R105. Follow this road through Portmarnock village and then watch out for a car park on your right just past the Portmarnock Golf Hotel.
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 swimmers Killiney has the advantage of having good depth to the water, even when the tide is out. You do, of course, need to be careful, especially with children, as a few metres from the shore you can be out of your depth.
Sometimes the water looks a bit murky, but its quality seems to be ok. Looking out to sea this is a nice place to swim, as nearby Sorrento Terrace looks well in the sunshine and various yachts regularly sail by.
In good summer weather this is a popular and busy spot. There is a good size car park, which has ok toilet facilities. The beach is buggy accessible and wheelchairs can get to a tarmacadam path alongside it.
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 is good for those who want a decent swim. It is also well used by children with the beach often full of families from the nearby caravan park and others who prefer their beaches smaller and less crowded.
Facilities at Pollshone are basic. There is space for cars to park at the top of the hill before you descend to the beach, but you can’t park any closer. The beach is not wheelchair accessible and you will be lifting buggies for the last few yards across a rough path before you hit the sand.
Although Pollshone itself is small, when the tide is out you can walk back to nearby Ardamine and on to Courtown itself.
From Courtown take the R742 in the direction of Wexford. After a few kilometres watch out for a right turn signposted Pollshone. Park at the end of this road before the road narrows and drops toward the beach.
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 side. Access to the water can be from the rough slipway which leads to the small, stony beach. From here there is a gradual wade in so it’s good for children.
Alternatively, you can follow the rough path to the left of the bridge which leads you to a small pier cum landing area. The steps here bring you into clear and deep water, even when the tide is low.
The beach here is more stones than sand and when the tide is in it gets covered so don’t come here with too many buckets and spades. However, if you are looking for a quiet place for a good swim in clear water, then this is a good choice.
From Tramore take the R675 toward Waterford. Not far outside the town you take a right turn onto the R684/685 toward Dunmore East. Follow this road and watch out for a sign posted right turn for Ballymacaw . After this you are on your own as we didn’t see any more signposts and the cove itself isn’t signposted. Just ask the friendly locals
