Beach · County Dublin
Donabate, Balcarrick Beach
Water quality: Excellent (2025)Blue FlagLifeguards in seasonToiletsParkingDogs on a lead
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.
Donabate Balcarrick beach is a south-east facing, gently sloping sandy beach consisting of a large sandy dune area.
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 | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | Excellent | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Excellent | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Excellent | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Excellent | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 9 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | Yes | 11am to 7pm weekends only in June & full time July & August |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | No | |
| Beach wheelchair | Yes | A Hippocampe chair is available at Balcarrick Beach, Donabate during August by contacting the Shoreline Hotel on 01 8346153. The service is free of charge but you are strongly advised to book in advance to avoid disappointment. You will be asked to complete a booking form and to present a valid ID as proof of identity. |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | Yes | In Lifeguard Hut when lifeguard on duty |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | Yes | |
| Recycling | Yes |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs on a lead
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-09-07): E. coli <10, intestinal enterococci 5 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
Outdoors in County Dublin this week
Best day outdoors: Sun, 11 Oct — dry by day, light winds, up to 13°C
- Fri, 9 Oct14° / 8°Drizzle
- Sat, 10 Oct12° / 7°Scattered clouds
- Sun, 11 Oct13° / 13°Scattered clouds
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 · 6.7 km awayVelvet Strand, PortmarnockBeachVelvet Strand, Portmarnock is a long sandy beach, backed by wonderful dunes which harbour fascinating flora. It is located in Portmarnock, County Dublin and is popular for walking, horse riding and bathing.
Nature spot · 8.6 km awayInis Mac NeasáinIreland's EyeIslandIreland's EyeIreland's Eye, a small rocky island north of Howth Harbour, is home to the remains of an early Christian monastic settlement.