16 Beaches to Explore in Connacht

Checkout places to visit in Connacht

Connacht

Connacht is one of the provinces of Ireland, in the west of Ireland. Until the ninth century it consisted of several independent major Gaelic kingdoms. Its eastern boundary is the middle course of the River Shannon. Connaught is the poorest part of the Irish republic and comprises the modern counties of Mayo, Sligo, Leitrim, Galway, and Roscommon.

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Beaches to Explore in Connacht

An Trá Mhór

An Trá Mhór is a long sheltered sandy beach situated at Inverin, Co. Galway. It is a whie sandy beach with clear water and great views of the coastline. This beach has a gradual slope into the water, making it a great place to swim. There is a car park and toilet facilities are provided.

Dog's Bay

Dogs Bay is a horseshoe shaped bay with more than a mile long stretch of white sandy beach. It backs on to Gurteen Bay, and together they form a tombolo which juts out into the Atlantic Ocean. The wild headland which stretches out into the Atlantic between the two beaches is an area of great beauty and is a fantastic walk where you will be surrounded by water on three sides.

Dunmoran Strand

Dunmoran Strand is surrounded by dunes and lies in a quite, rural region. Most of the surf here comes from groundswells and the best swell direction is from the northwest. A hiking trail leads along the beach and all the way to Aughris Head, 2,5 kilometres away. This beach got Green Coast Award for 2018.

Enniscrone Beach

Enniscrone beach is one of the safest and tidiest beaches along the west coast of Ireland. It is almost 5km of fine sand, backed by sand dunes. It offers visitors a wide range of activities for all age groups, including almost 5km of safe beach, world famous seaweed baths, a marvellous 27 hole golf links course, a leisure centre, playground and amusement park.

Glassilaun Beach

This is a white sandy beach with a stunning mountain backdrop. You can enjoy breathtaking scenery and crystal clear waters. Perfect for those looking for a scenic stroll, great snorkelling or a swim with a view. The beach is popular for swimming, snorkelling, walking and sightseeing.

Gurteen Bay

Gurteen Bay is a pretty natural cove located near Roundstone. Magnificent, one appreciates its fine sandy beach, as well as its proximity to a second bay: Dogs Bay. To do to enjoy the sea. The water here is crystal clear and it's used for swimming and other water based activities including windsurfing and kitesurfing. Dogs Bay and Gurteen Bay make up one of the finest stretches of coastline in Connemara with uncompromising views of Errisbeg and the surrounding countryside.

Lissadell beach

This beautiful south-facing beach is very popular with locals and tourists alike. The area is well known for walking, swimming, surfing and other watersports and in winter Bird Watching. There is also a little river which runs along the beach and makes a fantastic playground for kids.

Mullaghmore Beach

Mullaghmore Beach is situated in North Sligo next to the picturesque village of Mullaghmore. It is approximately 3km of white sandy beach and is a very popular surfing spot. This rural sandy beach is backed by an extensive dune system and with view of Ben Bulben, overlooked by the majestic Classiebawn Castle on the headland. It is also renowned for being a base for licensed angling/passenger boats for charter, sea angling and trips to Inishmurray Island.

Old Head Beach

This excellent, rural beach is located in Louisburgh, in County Mayo. It is sheltered by cliffs and woodland. This beach has a number of rock pools that are exposed when the tide is out. The beach is sheltered from the south and west. Its sheltered location makes it perfect for swimming.

Renvyle Beach

A beautiful sandy beach which was located in the stunning Connemara district of Galway. It is widely known for the caravan and camping park that sits right on the edge of the beach. The beach was also one of the recipients of the Green Coast Award Beaches 2013, which is an award for beaches that have excellent water quality but are also prized for their natural, unspoilt environment.

Ross Beach

This beautiful sandy beach is the perfect location for a family day on the beach and a place where we have spent many an enjoyable afternoon. It has great views of Barta Island in the River Moy estuary and across Killala bay to Enniscrone beach on the east shore. There is also opportunities for Surfing, Walking, Canoeing, Swimming and Fishing.

Silver Strand

The magnificent Silver Strand Beach in Mayo is arguably one of the best beaches in Ireland, and it’s one of our favourite places to visit in Mayo. The beach is located in an ecologically important area and in 2016 received the Green Coast Award in recognition of the beach’s clean environment, excellent water quality and natural beauty. The location is also a Discovery Point on the Wild Atlantic Way.

Streedagh Beach

This is a vast sandy beach with dunes and a lagoon behind with fantastic views over the sea to the mountains of Donegal.This is an exposed beach with reef breaks which create ideal surfing conditions all year round. Located close to the village of Grange with restaurants and pubs and an outdoor play area.

Trá na Feadóige

This beach is located in Roundstone, County Galway, in the Connemara region of the west of Ireland, lies back-to-back with Dog's Bay. The two beaches were formed by a sand spit and tombolo which now separates the two bays known as Gurteen Bay and Dog's Bay. The name Gurteen derives from the Irish Goirtín meaning small plot or small field.

Uggool Beach

Uggool Beach is a large beach in County Mayo, on the west coast of Ireland, located south of the town of Louisburgh. It is situated at the mouth of Killlary Harbour to its south, with Silver Strand to its north, Mweelrea mountain to its east and the Atlantic ocean to its west.It is bordered by the townlands of Uggool, Doovilra and Mweelin. The Bunanakee River flows across Uggool Beach. The tidal Dooneen Island is on the southern edge of the beach.

Yellow Strand

Yellow strand is at the Raghly peninsula. It is a long sandy beach which is always, even on a hot summer's day, very quiet. This beach doesn't have any lifeguards and it is dangerous for swimming. A popular location for a small picnic and also there are so many things to see and do here.

Map of Beaches to explore in Connacht