Beach · County Galway
Trá na mBan, An Spidéal
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.
Trá na mBan is a popular bathing area consisting of a mixture of rocky foreshore and sandy areas which are covered at high tide. Trá na mBan supports a variety of animals, birds, shellfish and plants. Seals and otters may be spotted off the coast. Activities include swimming, bathing and watersports.
Good (2025): A good standard over four years.
The record, year by year
| Year | EPA classification | Samples | Excellent | Good | Sufficient | Poor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | — | 8 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 2025 | Good | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024 | Not classified | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2023 | Poor | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022 | Poor | 5 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2021 | — | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 2019 | — | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Facilities
| Lifeguards | Yes | 12-6 weekends July Aug during a typical lifeguard season |
|---|---|---|
| Toilets | Yes | |
| Parking | Yes | |
| Wheelchair access | No | |
| Beach wheelchair | No | |
| Public transport | Yes | There is a public bus stop nearby. |
| First aid | Yes | In the lifeguard hut during a typical lifeguard season |
| Lifebuoy | No | |
| 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 20, intestinal enterococci 26 (cfu/100 ml).
The EPA's bathing water profile
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
Forests & woodlands
Parks, gardens & islands
Nature spot · 14 km awayCircle of Life National Organ Donor Commemorative GardenGardenGalway CityCircle of Life is Ireland's National Organ Donor commemorative garden and is Galway's International Heritage Garden. Its welcoming design, and its richness of imagery and symbolism offer visitors an inspirational and memorable experience.
Nature spot · Co. Clare · 14 km awayCaher Bridge GardenGardenFanoreSet in the beautiful Burren region of County Clare, Caher Bridge Garden is found near Fanore. It is based around a restored riverside cottage and blends sensitively with its surroundings.