Beach · County Wexford
Carnach
Carne
Water quality: Excellent (2025)Blue FlagLifeguards in seasonToiletsParkingWheelchair accessNo dogs
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.
Carne is a level sandy beach adjacent to Carne pier that faces east towards the Irish Sea. There is a dune system to the west of the beach.
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 | — | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Excellent | 15 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 15 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 15 | 14 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | Public car parking available onsite |
| Wheelchair access | Yes | Disabled car parking is provided at the main car park. Beach wheelchair located in car park |
| Beach wheelchair | Yes | Available June to August inclusive. Located at public car park. Key from Carne Beach Caravan Park 053-9131131. |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | Yes | First aid available at lifeguard hut |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | Life buoys available on beach |
| Information board | Yes | Beach information board onsite |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | No | |
| Recycling | No |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs are not allowed1st June and 15th September: no dogs in blue flag area between lifeguard markers from 11:00 hrs to 18:00 hrs. Dogs on a lead are permitted through the blue flag area to access other beach areas.
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-09-01): E. coli 10, intestinal enterococci 8 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
Outdoors in County Wexford this week
Best day outdoors: Sat, 10 Oct — dry by day, breezy, up to 13°C
- Fri, 9 Oct15° / 9°Drizzle
- Sat, 10 Oct13° / 7°Sun with light cloud
- Sun, 11 Oct14° / 14°Drizzle
Make a day of it
The nearest trails, beaches, woods and heritage within 25 km.
Trails & walks
Beaches & bathing waters
Forests & woodlands
Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 10 km awayRosslare StrandBeachRosslare Strand is a beach 12km south east of Wexford Town and 4km north west of Rosslare Europort. It is a mixture of sand and stone and runs the length of the southern peninsula which protrudes into Wexford Harbour.
Nature spot · 18 km awayThe Wexford Slobs and Wildfowl ReserveParkThe Wexford Slobs and Wildfowl Reserve in Castlebridge, County Wexford are a natural haven for birds. Home to large flocks of geese, ducks and wading birds during the winter, with as many as 8,000 Greenland White-Fronted Geese going there.