Beach · County Kerry
Béal Bán
Dogs on a lead
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 7 September 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
Béal Bán is located near Smerwick Harbour in the village of Ballyferriter in Co Kerry. The beach is sheltered from the wind, and is known for its horse and pony races.
The record, year by year
| Year | EPA classification | Samples | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | No | |
| Parking | No | |
| Wheelchair access | No | |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | No | |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | No | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | No | |
| Recycling | No |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs on a lead
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-09-07): E. coli <10, intestinal enterococci <1 (cfu/100 ml).
Outdoors in County Kerry this week
Best day outdoors: Fri, 9 Oct — a little daytime rain, windy, up to 13°C
- Fri, 9 Oct13° / 11°Drizzle
- Sat, 10 Oct13° / 11°Grey cloud
- Sun, 11 Oct15° / 14°Light rain
Make a day of it
The nearest trails, beaches, woods and heritage within 25 km.
Trails & walks
Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 3.2 km awayMurreagh BeachBeachOne of many sandy beaches surrounding Smerwick Harbour in County Kerry, Murreagh Beach is popular amongst walkers and is also safe for swimming. Some great sunset views can be enjoyed and photographed from here.
Nature spot · 4.6 km awayClogher BeachBeachDingleExperience the mesmerising power of the sea at Clogher Beach on the Dingle Peninsula in County Kerry. This tiny beach offers wonderful views of the Blasket Islands.