Owenahincha, Little Island Strand
Good to go
No current pollution alerts — always assess conditions yourself.
Checked against the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) · data last changed 2 months ago.
Sea conditions
Water temperature
14.4°C
Chilly — most swimmers want a wetsuit
Wave height
2.0 m
Significant wave height offshore; inshore conditions vary.
Tide
Going out
- Low water around UTC
- High water around 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
Owenahincha is a relatively gently sloping, sandy beach and has sand dunes to the rear which extend between 70m & 100m. The beach can be subject to very strong wave action and rip tides/strong currents. There is a short pleasant cliff walk between the Warren Strand and Owenahincha. Approx. 1km to the east of the beach there is a Special Area of Conservation Kilkerran Lake & Castlefreke Dunes (SAC 001061). The beach is used by limited numbers of surfers, windsurfers, canoeists, and anglers.
This spot’s record
Owenahincha, Little Island Strand is in Cork, about 10 km from Clonakilty. Owenahincha, Little Island Strand has been rated Excellent 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 86 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 1 September 2025. 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.
| Date | E. coli | Enterococci | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 Sept | 31 | 4 | Excellent |
| 17 Aug | 10 | 7 | Excellent |
| 27 Jul | 10 | 5 | Excellent |
| 20 Jul | 10 | 2 | Excellent |
| 29 Jun | 20 | 3 | Excellent |
| 8 Jun | 63 | 1 | 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
- Excellent2022
- Excellent2023
- Excellent2024
- Excellent2025
This water has been rated Excellent in each of the last 4 years.
Facilities & access
- Lifeguard
- Yes
- Parking
- Yes
- Toilets
- Yes
- Accessible entry
- No
- Dogs
- NoDogs are not allowed on this beach between 10.30 a.m. & 7.00 p.m. during the bathing season which runs from 1st June to 15th September.
- Public transport
- No
Official water quality
Classified Excellent in 2025.
Owenahincha, Little Island Strand is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Owenahincha, Little Island Strand has achieved an Excellent Water Quality rating for the 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 profileCommon questions
- Can you swim at Owenahincha, Little Island Strand right now?
- Owenahincha, Little Island Strand 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 Owenahincha, Little Island Strand?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Owenahincha, Little Island Strand as Excellent 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 Owenahincha, Little Island Strand?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Owenahincha, Little Island Strand. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Owenahincha, Little Island Strand?
- Yes — Owenahincha, Little Island Strand has lifeguard cover. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Owenahincha, Little Island Strand?
- Owenahincha, Little Island Strand has toilets, parking. Dogs are restricted. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).
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Nearby swimming spots
See all swimming spots near Clonakilty — about 10 km away.