Grattan Road Beach
Caution
This spot is classified Sufficient — it meets the minimum bathing-water standard, but it's the lowest passing grade.
Checked against the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) · data last changed 25 days ago.
Sea conditions
Water temperature
14.7°C
Chilly — most swimmers want a wetsuit
Wave height
0.4 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
Grattan Road Beach is a shallow, sandy beach facing directly out to Galway Bay and boasts breath-taking views stretching for miles across the bay to County Clare and the Aran Islands. It is approx. 250m in length.
This spot’s record
Grattan Road Beach is in Galway, about 2 km from Galway. Grattan Road Beach was rated Sufficient in 2025 by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). Its previous classifications were Good in 2024, Good in 2023 and Good in 2022, so the rating here has moved rather than held. In the previous bathing season Grattan Road Beach was under a short-term pollution restriction on 29 days. That is last season's record and not a forecast for today. Across the 12 most recent samples published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland), E. coli counts ranged from 10 to 754 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 4 August 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.
| Date | E. coli | Enterococci | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Sept | 132 | 76 | Excellent |
| 7 Sept | 74 | 6 | Excellent |
| 31 Aug | 86 | 2 | Excellent |
| 24 Aug | 10 | 2 | Excellent |
| 17 Aug | 108 | 15 | Excellent |
| 10 Aug | 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
- Sufficient2025
This water has declined, from Good in 2022 to Sufficient in 2025.
Facilities & access
- Lifeguard
- YesLife Guard hut marked on beach map and is yellow & red in colour. Lifeguarded Zone is between yellow and red flags. Do not swim if all red flags are flying. Refer to www.Galwaycity.ie for lifeguard times.
- Parking
- YesParking on roadside along adjacent promenade and Toft Park car park (750m)
- Toilets
- YesPortaloo toilet facility available.
- Accessible entry
- YesAccess ramps available
- Dogs
- NoRefer to beach code of conduct and dog control bye-laws 2008. Dogs allowed on beach during restricted hours.
- Public transport
- YesBus stop located in close proximity
Official water quality
Classified Sufficient in 2025.
Grattan Road Beach is classified as achieving Sufficient Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Grattan Road Beach achieved a Good Water Quality rating in 2024, 2023 and 2022. 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 Grattan Road Beach right now?
- Grattan Road Beach is currently marked "Caution". This spot is classified Sufficient — it meets the minimum bathing-water standard, but it's the lowest passing grade. 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 Grattan Road Beach?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Grattan Road Beach as Sufficient 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 Grattan Road Beach?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Grattan Road Beach. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Grattan Road Beach?
- Yes — Grattan Road Beach has lifeguard cover. Hours: Life Guard hut marked on beach map and is yellow & red in colour. Lifeguarded Zone is between yellow and red flags. Do not swim if all red flags are flying. Refer to www.Galwaycity.ie for lifeguard times.. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Grattan Road Beach?
- Grattan Road Beach has toilets, parking, accessible entry. 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 Galway — about 2 km away.