Can you swim at Garryvoe right now?

Garryvoe is currently marked "Good to go". No current pollution alerts — always assess conditions yourself. This reflects the latest data published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). Conditions change quickly — always assess the water yourself before entering.

What is the water quality like at Garryvoe?

the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Garryvoe as Good in 2025. Classifications are a rolling assessment of bacterial samples taken over four bathing seasons, measured against E. coli and intestinal enterococci limits set by the EU Bathing Water Directive.

Is there a swimming ban or warning at Garryvoe?

There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Garryvoe. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.

Is there a lifeguard at Garryvoe?

Yes — Garryvoe has lifeguard cover. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.

What facilities are there at Garryvoe?

Garryvoe has toilets, parking, accessible entry. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).

Garryvoe

Good to go

No current pollution alerts — always assess conditions yourself.

Checked 30 minutes ago against the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) · data last changed 2 months ago.

Sea conditions

Water temperature

14.3°C

Chilly — most swimmers want a wetsuit

Wave height

1.6 m

Significant wave height offshore; inshore conditions vary.

Tide

Going out

Low water around 00:00 UTC
High water around 05:00 UTC

Modelled values, not measurements — coastal water often differs from the open-sea model, and tide times are approximate to within about half an hour. Use official tide tables for anything that depends on precise timing.

About this spot

Garryvoe beach is a south east facing, gently sloping, sandy/pebble beach located on a long stretch of sandy coastline. It is quite open to rough weather and rough seas. There is an area of sand dunes to the rear (west). The bathing water is located within Ballycotton, Ballynamona and Shanagarry proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA 000076) and is also located within Ballycotton Bay Special Protection Area (SPA 004022). The beach is used to some extent by anglers, walkers, surfers and windsurfers.

This spot’s record

Garryvoe is in Cork, about 15 km from Youghal. Garryvoe has been rated Good in each of the 4 bathing seasons classified by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland), 2022 through 2025. Across the 12 most recent samples published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland), E. coli counts ranged from 10 to 122 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 13 July 2026. A classification is calculated from percentiles across four seasons, so no single reading decides how this water is rated.

Recent sample results

The last 12 bacterial samples published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland), most recent on the right. Counts are per 100 ml of water.

Dashed line: 500 E. coli per 100 ml, the Bathing Water Directive guide value for coastal / transitional waters.

Recent bacterial sample results for this bathing water
Date	E. coli	Enterococci	Assessment
7 Sept	20	13	Excellent
10 Aug	10	1	Excellent
13 Jul	122	20	Excellent
22 Jun	10	3	Excellent
25 May	10	74	Excellent
1 Sept	10	2	Excellent

A bathing water's official classification is calculated from percentiles across four bathing seasons, not from any single sample — so one high reading doesn't mean a spot is unsafe, and one low reading doesn't mean it's clean today.

Quality over the last 4 years

Good2022
Good2023
Good2024
Good2025

This water has been rated Good in each of the last 4 years.

Facilities & access

Lifeguard: Yes
Parking: Yes
Toilets: Yes
Accessible entry: YesWheelchair Ramp
Dogs: Yes
Public transport: No

Official water quality

Classified Good in 2025.

Garryvoe is classified as achieving Good Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Garryvoe achieved a Good Water Quality rating for four consecutive years 2022 to 2025. Annual water quality ratings are generally calculated using monitoring results over a four-year period and are assessed against stringent bacterial limits to protect bather health.

Official bathing-water profile

What Excellent, Good, Sufficient and Poor actually mean

Common questions

Can you swim at Garryvoe right now?: Garryvoe is currently marked "Good to go". No current pollution alerts — always assess conditions yourself. This reflects the latest data published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). Conditions change quickly — always assess the water yourself before entering.
What is the water quality like at Garryvoe?: the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Garryvoe as Good in 2025. Classifications are a rolling assessment of bacterial samples taken over four bathing seasons, measured against E. coli and intestinal enterococci limits set by the EU Bathing Water Directive.
Is there a swimming ban or warning at Garryvoe?: There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Garryvoe. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
Is there a lifeguard at Garryvoe?: Yes — Garryvoe has lifeguard cover. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
What facilities are there at Garryvoe?: Garryvoe has toilets, parking, accessible entry. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).

This spot is also in

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Nearby swimming spots

See all swimming spots near Youghal — about 15 km away.