Beach · County Mayo
Clare Island, Louisburgh
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 2 September 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
Clare Island Beach extends from the old pier on the south side of the beach to the stony shoreline on the northern end adjacent to the Community Centre. There are submerged rocks at the northern end of the beach. As the beach is located in the main harbour, there are numerous domestic and commercial dwellings in close proximity to the beach. Clare Island Cliffs cSAC and pNHA ( Site Code 002243) encompasses the sea cliffs of the north west, north, west and south coastline. There are many historical sites located throughout Clare Island. Activities include swimming, sailing, canoeing, scuba-diving/snorkelling and fishing.
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 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 8 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | Yes | Ramp leading to beach. |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | Yes | Details available on beach notice board. |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | Yes | |
| Recycling | Yes |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs on a leadDogs only allowed before 12pm and after 6.30pm during the bathing season (1st June to 15th September) otherwise allowed at all times onto beach.
- No cars on the beach
- Car-free zone
Latest sample (2026-09-02): E. coli 220, intestinal enterococci 16 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
Outdoors in County Mayo this week
Best day outdoors: Sun, 11 Oct — dry by day, breezy, up to 14°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 Oct12° / 8°Medium rain showers
- Sat, 10 Oct12° / 7°Sun with light cloud
- Sun, 11 Oct14° / 13°Sun with light cloud
Make a day of it
The nearest trails, beaches, woods and heritage within 25 km.
Trails & walks
Beaches & bathing waters
Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 2.6 km awayCliaraClare IslandBeachClare IslandClare Island was once home to the famous pirate Queen Grace O'Malley and is the largest and highest of Clew Bay's many islands, with dramatic coastal cliffs and spectacular views of one of Ireland's best known peaks, Croagh Patrick.
Nature spot · 2.6 km awayClare Island, LouisburghBeachClare IslandClare Island, Louisburgh is a sandy, rural beach located on an island off the coast of Mayo in the west of Ireland. Visitors can visit the island by taking the ferry from Roonagh Pier.