Beach · County Dublin
Portmarnock, Velvet Strand Beach
Water quality: Excellent (2025)Blue FlagLifeguards in seasonToiletsParkingWheelchair accessDogs 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 9 September 2026, was excellent. Live status on beaches.ie, which the EPA updates hourly in season.
Velvet Strand Beach is a long, open, gently sloping beach facing east. Dunes are located to the back of the beach.
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 | 9 | 9 | 0 | 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 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 9 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | Yes | 11am to 7pm weekends only in June & full time July, August & first two weeks in Sept |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | Yes | |
| Beach wheelchair | Yes | A Hippocampe chair is available at Portmarnock Beach by contacting 086-8222646. 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 | Yes | Bus Route |
| 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 (2026-09-09): E. coli 10, intestinal enterococci 9 (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
Forests & woodlands
Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 1.9 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 · 5.0 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.