These Are The Sea Swim Spots Locals Love in The West
Sea swimming in the West of Ireland is never just about getting in and getting out. It is about tide, light, weather, local knowledge, and the places that stay with you long after you’ve dried off.
We asked three swimmers to share their favourite, lesser-known or much-loved spots across Galway and the West. From White Strand in Co. Clare to Trá Sol, Glassilaun and Inishbofin, their answers are full of practical advice, personal memories and a shared respect for the water.
"There is something magical for me about leaping into the sea" - Lisa Regan
Favourite swim spot?
I have always loved swimming from a height or a point, like at Blackrock, off a pier or even from a rock. There is something magical for me about leaping into the sea. I naturally love a high, full tide, the way it closes in on your body and makes you instantly feel at one with nature, as the water becomes your second skin.
There is a bóithrín in Barna, just before the village, that we call Mag’s bóithrín, and I have been swimming there since I was a child. When the tide is in, it is magic.
There are also some beautiful rock pool spots just outside Easkey in Sligo that I loved swimming in. Again, it is the rocks, the leap in, and that same sense of magic in the water.
And the ultimate for me is the Far Beach on Inishbofin. It is the most serene spot. The walk in, the white sands, the turquoise waters. It is heaven. I adore the entire island.
Why these spots?
I think it comes from watching films like My Girl and other American movies when I was younger. They always had beach or lake houses, and it felt so aspirational. I loved how they cycled to the water and jumped straight in.
Water instantly makes me feel relaxed, and being able to jump into it brings me back to very happy times as a child and teenager, when my world felt small and simple.
What should first-timers know?
Respect the water. Nature is a greater force than we will ever be.
Never swim alone in a new place, especially in colder seasons. Cold water can shock you very quickly. We also never fully know the currents, and even when we think we do, they are always stronger than us.
Any advice for beginners?
Start in the warmer seasons, from spring onwards, so you can gradually adjust to the water, its movement and its temperature.
It is also about what you have for afterwards. Bring warm clothes, good socks, and never stay in too long.
Talk to people who regularly swim in that area to understand how the sea behaves there. Sea swimmers are incredibly knowledgeable and will always offer helpful advice about specific spots.
Spring is my favourite time to swim, when the light begins to return.
Best time to swim?
I love the early morning light. I really adore it. Spring is my favourite time to swim, when the light begins to return from around 6:15am onwards. There is a crisp, golden glow over the water that makes the whole experience feel even more special.
"Kerins Hole is a unique pool of beauty to swim in." - Joe Kennelly, daily open water swimmer and coach
Favourite swim spot?
I honestly think that the White Strand, Miltown Malbay, Co. Clare is overall the most beautiful, safest, and has lots of little additional nuggets to offer potential visiting swimmers. As the name suggests, the sand is uniquely white and visually attractive. As you approach the beach, the gentle falling narrow road offers a truly amazing vista, with the Cliffs of Moher on one side and Mutton island straight ahead.
Because of its unique location and its bay composition, the sea is nearly always calm, and the beach has a proud record of never taking a life. As one looks out on the bay, known as Mal Bay, the beautiful cliff walk to the left is a wonderful activity to partake in. The walk around Freagh Head is majestic and is approximately a 4km loop, returning by road. Also on a high tide, there is a man-made pool, known as Kerins Hole about 300m out along the afore mentioned Freagh Head cliff walk. The Council recently constructed safe steps and railings leading down to Kerins Hole. It is a unique pool of beauty to swim in.
White Strand is also a Blue Flag beach, had lifeguard's patrolling it during the Summer and it also hosts a very well established Water Safety Week annually. It is also the centre for Water Safety Clare training facility and the Lifeguards Hut and Water Safety Training Centre is indeed very impressive.
Never venture in to a new location without gaining local knowledge.
What should first-timers know?
The most important thing to know is that it is a very safe beach, with a gentle slope. However, be careful when getting in on a high tide as the high tide does climb up on the rocky shoreline. Best swim before or after high tide. Also, and most importantly, please be aware that there are Weaver Fish habituating at the Low Water mark.
Any advice for beginners?
Always seek the advice of an experienced swimmer. Never venture in to a new location without gaining local knowledge.
Best time to swim?
Anytime, (except high tide on a rough day) and all year round.
"Starting the day without the cold swim feels almost wrong." - Emilija Jefremova, photographer
Favourite swim spots?
Glassilaun is definitely one of the most stunning beaches in Connemara, although it looks like the jellyfish, almost too much!
Trá Sol will always have a special meaning to my wild swims as it's where I started dipping in 2016 when I started working in TG4 as a camera operator and going there with my colleague on our lunch breaks. Back then, we were the black sheep of the sea swims and were called crazy, even though now the same people are proudly jumping into the sea themselves.
What should first-timers know?
To just enjoy it and to take in the scenery.
Any advice for beginners?
Respect the locals and flora and fauna and don't block the country roads with bad parking!
Best time to swim?
Winter is probably my favourite time as it gives the rush/boost and the reset like no other remedies. I try to go every day wherever I work in the country, even if it's a river or a lake. It became such a big part of my daily routine, that starting the day without the cold swim feels almost wrong. It's not just for health reasons – the community aspect of it is irreplaceable as well, little encouraging chats and sunset/sunrise views from the water level!
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