Beach · County Clare
Ballyallia Lake, Ennis
Can I swim here? Bathing is temporarily prohibited
Water quality affected due to the presence of algal bloom In place since 11 September 2026. Follow the signs on the beach. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
The bathing area at Ballyallia Lake is based around a small slipway, consists of small stones and extends 70m along the shoreline. Ballyallia Lake is a Special Area of Conservation as well as a Special Protection Area for birds and wildlife sanctuary. Activities include walking and fishing. It is a popular place for young families to feed the ducks and have picnics. Beach bye-laws are in place with horse riding and dogs prohibited between 11am and 6pm during the summer season.
Excellent (2025): The highest standard: results over four years were consistently very clean.
The record, year by year
| Year | EPA classification | Samples | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | 13 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| 2025 | Excellent | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 10 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2019 | — | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | No | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | Yes | Gentle sloping ramp to pier |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | No | |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | Yes | |
| Recycling | No |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs on a leadBefore 11 am and after 6 pm during summer season, otherwise not allowed at all times onto beach during the summer.
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-09-01): E. coli <10, intestinal enterococci <10 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
Outdoors in County Clare this week
Best day outdoors: Sat, 10 Oct — dry by day, breezy, up to 13°C
- Fri, 9 Oct14° / 11°Drizzle
- Sat, 10 Oct13° / 8°Sun with grey cloud
- Sun, 11 Oct15° / 14°Drizzle
Make a day of it
The nearest trails, beaches, woods and heritage within 25 km.
Trails & walks
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Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 19 km awayThe Burren PerfumeryGardenCarranDiscover the enchanting Burren Perfumery in Carran, County Clare. Ireland’s first perfumery was established over 50 years ago, amidst one of the world’s most extraordinary floral landscapes.