Beach · County Waterford
Goat Island
Dogs 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 14 September 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
Goats Island Beach is located approx 5km west of Ardmore in Co Waterford. The beach is located in an inlet that faces south and is sheltered to the west side by the island itself.
The record, year by year
| Year | EPA classification | Samples | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2025 | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2021 | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | No | |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | No | |
| Parking | No | |
| Wheelchair access | No | |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | No | |
| First aid | No | |
| Lifebuoy | Yes | |
| Information board | Yes | |
| Activity zones | No | |
| Litter bins | Yes | |
| Recycling | No |
Dogs and cars
- Dogs on a lead
- No cars on the beach
Latest sample (2026-09-14): E. coli 31, intestinal enterococci 4 (cfu/100 ml).
Outdoors in County Waterford this week
Best day outdoors: Sat, 10 Oct — dry by day, breezy, up to 13°C
- Fri, 9 Oct14° / 8°Medium rain showers
- Sat, 10 Oct13° / 7°Sun with light cloud
- Sun, 11 Oct14° / 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 · Co. Cork · 6.4 km awayMillennium Garden of TimeGardenYoughalSituated in Youghal, County Cork, the Millennium Garden of Time is a spectacular place that was developed by the local Tidy Towns Committee. The garden is based on the Chi-Rho page from the Book of Kells and features a number of ponds.
Nature spot · 24 km awayLismore Castle GardensGardenLismoreBeautiful Lismore Castle is home to seven acres of gardens all set within the historic Lismore Castle walls. From majestic trees to flowering meadows, ornamental displays to fruit and vegetables there is something to delight all visitors.