Beach · County Kerry
Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane)
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.
Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) is a south westerly facing sandy beach backing onto sand dunes. It is exposed to Atlantic wave action and westerly winds. The beach is backed by a sand-dune system, and beyond this is a mixture of woodland, wetland and un-enclosed upland/rough grazing. Activities include swimming, walking, surfing and windsurfing, canoeing and angling. The identified bathing water is approximately 160m in length, however, it is part of a larger beach which extends from Abbey Island eastwards beyond Derrynane House.
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 | — | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Excellent | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 13 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | Yes | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | Yes | Ramp |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | Yes | Available from Lifeguard hut |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | Yes | |
| Recycling | Yes |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs are not allowedDogs are not allowed on the Blue-Flag section of the Beach (ie. within the Lifeguard Patrol area) between 11am and 7pm each day from the 1st June to 15th September inclusive.
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-09-07): E. coli 10, intestinal enterococci <1 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
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
Beaches & bathing waters
Forests & woodlands
Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 1.1 km awayCé Bhun an Bhaile (Bunavalla Pier)IslandTake a stroll down to Bunavalla Pier in County Kerry and enjoy sights of the docked fishing boats and the stunning coastline.
Nature spot · 11 km awayCé Bhaile an Sceilg (Ballinskelligs Pier)IslandBallinskelligsAdmire the sky blue waters of the Atlantic ocean from Ballinskelligs Pier (Cé Bhaile and Sceilg) on the edge of County Kerry.