Forty Foot Bathing Place
Good to go
No current pollution alerts — always assess conditions yourself.
About this spot
The Forty Foot, a historic bathing pool on a promontory on the southern tip of Dublin Bay, is a short walk from the James Joyce Tower, Sandycove. It used to be a male only swimming spot but today both men and women enjoy a swim here. The character of Buck Mulligan in James Joyce's Ulysses takes a dip in the Forty Foot. People have been swimming here for the past 250 years.
Facilities & access
- Lifeguard
- No
- Parking
- YesLimited on street pay and display parking.
- Toilets
- YesPublic Toilet within 100 metres.
- Accessible entry
- No
- Dogs
- No
- Public transport
- YesSandycove and Glasthule Dart Station Nearby
Official water quality
Classified Excellent in 2025.
Forty Foot Bathing Place is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Forty Foot Bathing Place 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 Forty Foot Bathing Place right now?
- Forty Foot Bathing Place 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 Forty Foot Bathing Place?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Forty Foot Bathing Place 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 Forty Foot Bathing Place?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Forty Foot Bathing Place. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Forty Foot Bathing Place?
- No lifeguard cover is listed for Forty Foot Bathing Place. Never swim alone at an unguarded spot.
- What facilities are there at Forty Foot Bathing Place?
- Forty Foot Bathing Place has toilets, parking. Dogs are restricted. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).