Beach · County Galway
Clifden Beach
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.
Clifden Beach is a small sheltered sandy beach located close to Clifden Town, 78kms to the west of Galway City on the shores of Clifden Bay. The bathing area is located down a narrow road called “The Beach Road” beside Clifden Boat Club and the RNLI Station. It is divided from a rocky shore and a mooring facility by a small grassy headland. There is a small seating area overlooking the rocky shore.Clifden Beach had been an identified/regulated bathing water and was monitored and managed under the terms of the 2008 Bathing Water Quality Regulations. Clifden Beach was declassified in 2021 due to Poor water quality - it had been classified as Poor for five consecutive years (2016 to 2020). Clifden Beach is no longer an identified/regulated bathing water, but continues to be monitored by Galway County Council as an other monitored water.
The record, year by year
| Year | EPA classification | Samples | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2024 | — | 6 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| 2019 | — | 8 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | No | |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | No | |
| Lifebuoy | No | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| 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 121, intestinal enterococci 69 (cfu/100 ml).
Outdoors in County Galway this week
Best day outdoors: Sun, 1 Nov — dry by day, light winds, up to 11°C
- Thu, 29 Oct14° / 11°Scattered clouds
- Fri, 30 Oct15° / 10°Grey cloud
- Sat, 31 Oct13° / 5°Grey cloud
- Sun, 1 Nov11° / 4°Clear weather sun
Forecast: Met Éireann · outdoor rating by Winsome Planet
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 · 9.9 km awayBá Bhun AbhannBunowen BayBeachOn the eastern side of the Slyne Head promontory is Bunowen Bay, a small, sheltered beach with crystal clear waters.
Nature spot · 9.9 km awayConnemara National ParkParkLetterfrackVisit County Galway and explore the spectacular Connemara National Park. It covers some 3,000 hectares of scenic mountains, expansive bogs, glorious grasslands and enchanting woodlands.