in

Sea swimming facilities (including hot showers) are being installed at 22 beaches around Ireland. Here’s where:

Over the past 12 months thousands of people have rediscovered the joys of sea swimming, surfing and water sports around Ireland’s coast.

Fáilte Ireland have announced a €19 million project to install all weather changing facilities at more than 20 swimming locations across Ireland. The locations include coastal beaches, inland waterways and canals and are expected to be a huge boost for both locals and tourism.

Tourism Minister Catherine Martin said the new facilities will be a big boost to areas where water based activities are popular.

During COVID we’ve seen as significant upward growth in people enjoying these outdoor, water based activities. Supporting these activity tourism businesses and enhancing the tourism economy in rural communities right across the county is a key commitment in the Programme for Government.

Catherine Martin, Tourism Minister
Trawmore Bay on Achill Island, Ireland. Instagram: Alastair Timothy @at__photo_

The new facilities will include showers, toilets, secure lockers and storage so people can feel safe leaving their personal belongings on dry land while they’re out on the water.

The facilities are all-weather facilities so they are going to be unlike anything we currently have in Ireland and they will be a combination of what people may be used to seeing around the world. Basically, there will be an enclosed section to the building but it will be open on many sides.

Fiona Monaghan, Fáilte Ireland

Docklands Water Sports, North Wall Quay, Pontoons, Dublin 1

DLRCC Killiney Beach Facilities Project, Killiney Beach, Killiney, Co Dublin

Ballycuggeran Sports Activity Facility, Ogonnelloe, Killaloe, County Clare

 Kilkee Waterworld Activity Facilities, Waterworld, East End, Kilkee, County Clare

Claycastle Sports Activity Facility, Claycastle, Youghal, County Cork

GarryLucas Beach, Ballinspittle, County Cork

Tullan Strand Centre for Water Sports Activities Bundoran, Drumacrin, Tullan, Strand, Bundoran, County Donegal

Downings Water Sports Activity Facility, Cnoc Na Muirleog, Na Muirleog, Na Dunaibh, County Donegal

Kilkenny Water Sports Hub, County Hall, John St, Kilkenny

Tramore Water-Sports Activity Facility Centre, Promenade, Tramore, County Waterford

Ardmore Water-Sports Activity Facility Centre, Public Car Park, Cois Tra, Ardmore, County Waterford

Curracloe Water Sports Activity Centre, Whitegap, Curracloe, County Wexford

Acres Lake Activity Facility, Acres Lake, Drumshambo, County Leitrim

Dromineer Sports Activity Facility, Dromineer, Nenagh, County Tipperary

Corrib Sports & Adventure, Dyke Road, Terryland, Galway

Ballybunion Beach Shared Facilities Centre, Men’s (South) Beach, Ballybunion, County Kerry

Fenit Beach Shared Facility Centre, Fenit Beach, Fenit, County Kerry

Magherabeg Shared Facilities Centre, Magherabeg Lower, Castlegregory, County Kerry

Keel Facility Centre for Water Sports Activities, Keel Sandybanks, Achill Island, County Mayo

Carrowmore Beach, Louisburgh, County Mayo

Enniscrone Beach, Mackduff, Enniscrone , County Sligo

Rosses Point, County Sligo

Lonely Planet names Ireland’s 10 best beaches

Have you ever considered living in a lighthouse? This might be your chance to buy one…