Beach · County Galway
Céibh an Spidéil
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.
Céibh an Spidéil is a long sandy cove facing east. It is bound by a large stone fishing pier and an area of rocky shore. There is a variety of plants and wildlife to be seen. Otters and seals can be spotted on the shoreline. Activities include swimming and angling.
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 | — | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Excellent | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | Yes | 12-6 Seven days July & Aug, weekend June/Sept |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | Yes | Access to waters edge. |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | Yes | lifeguard huts during lifeguard season |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | Yes | |
| Recycling | Yes |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs are not allowedNo dogs allowed on designated Blue Flag Beaches during lifeguard hours. Dogs allowed on a lead at all other times
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-09-07): E. coli 20, intestinal enterococci 8 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
Outdoors in County Galway this week
Best day outdoors: Sun, 11 Oct — dry by day, breezy, up to 15°C
Status Yellow - Rain warning for Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo
From Thu, 8 Oct, 09:00 until Fri, 9 Oct, 04:00
Heavy spells of rain.
Be aware of potential impacts:
- Difficult travelling conditions
- Localised flooding possible
Issued by Met Éireann · met.ie/warnings
- Fri, 9 Oct13° / 9°Scattered clouds
- Sat, 10 Oct13° / 7°Sun with light cloud
- Sun, 11 Oct15° / 14°Sun with light cloud
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 · Co. Clare · 14 km awayCaher Bridge GardenGardenFanoreSet in the beautiful Burren region of County Clare, Caher Bridge Garden is found near Fanore. It is based around a restored riverside cottage and blends sensitively with its surroundings.
Nature spot · 15 km awayCircle of Life National Organ Donor Commemorative GardenGardenGalway CityCircle of Life is Ireland's National Organ Donor commemorative garden and is Galway's International Heritage Garden. Its welcoming design, and its richness of imagery and symbolism offer visitors an inspirational and memorable experience.