Beach · County Clare
Ballyallia Lake, Ennis
Can I swim here? Outside the bathing season
The bathing season runs from 1 June to 15 September. Outside it the water is not tested weekly and lifeguards are not on duty. The last sample, on 1 September 2026, was excellent. 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 | — | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 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: Sun, 1 Nov — dry by day, light winds, up to 11°C
- Thu, 29 Oct14° / 12°Sun with grey cloud
- Fri, 30 Oct15° / 11°Grey cloud
- Sat, 31 Oct13° / 8°Grey cloud
- Sun, 1 Nov11° / 6°Scattered clouds
Forecast: Met Éireann · outdoor rating by Winsome Planet
Make a day of it
The nearest trails, beaches, woods and heritage within 25 km.
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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.