Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua
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
15.1°C
Cool — comfortable for a shorter swim
Wave height
1.1 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
Trá an Dóilín is an unusual beach formed from a plethora of dead fragments of "maerl", a twig-like calcareous seaweed. This type of beach material is washed up at only a few locations in Ireland. It is an exposed beach which is subject to very strong wave action at times. The bathing area comprises a number of different habitats in close proximity to the beach including rocky outcrops, rock pools, off shore reefs and a fresh water lagoon. These different habitats support a variety of different plant, animal and bird species. It is a popular beach for snorkelling and diving.
This spot’s record
Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua is in Galway, about 39 km from Galway. Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua 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 20 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 8 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14 Sept | 10 | 10 | Excellent |
| 24 Aug | 10 | 3 | Excellent |
| 10 Aug | 10 | 2 | Excellent |
| 27 Jul | 10 | 3 | Excellent |
| 6 Jul | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 22 Jun | 10 | 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
- Yes12-6 7 days July & Aug weekend June/Sept
- Parking
- Yes
- Toilets
- Yes
- Accessible entry
- No
- Dogs
- NoNo dogs allowed on designated blue flag beaches during lifeguard hours. Dogs allowed on a lead at all other times.
- Public transport
- No
Official water quality
Classified Excellent in 2025.
Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua 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 Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua right now?
- Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua 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 Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua 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 Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua?
- Yes — Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua has lifeguard cover. Hours: 12-6 7 days July & Aug weekend June/Sept. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua?
- Trá an Dóilín, An Ceathrú Rua has toilets, parking. Dogs are restricted. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).
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