Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach)
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
1.3 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
Inis Oírr is situated 17km off the Galway coast and 9km off the Clare coast. The beach is on the northern coast of the island and is known as Trá Inis Oírr. Traditional farm practices have helped maintain the high ecological status of the island. The birdlife of Inis Oírr is of international importance due to the presence of species listed under Annex 1 of the Birds Directive. Choughs breed on the island. Other protected birds on the island include Little Tern, Artic Tern and Sandwich Tern.
This spot’s record
Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) is in Galway, about 21 km from Ennistimon. Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) 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 41 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sept | 10 | 2 | Excellent |
| 10 Aug | 10 | 2 | Excellent |
| 13 Jul | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 15 Jun | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 27 May | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 1 Sept | 41 | 11 | 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 weekends July Aug
- Parking
- No
- 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
- Yes
Official water quality
Classified Excellent in 2025.
Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) 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 Inis Oírr (Main Beach) right now?
- Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) 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 Inis Oírr (Main Beach)?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) 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 Inis Oírr (Main Beach)?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach). That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach)?
- Yes — Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) has lifeguard cover. Hours: 12-6 weekends July Aug. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach)?
- Trá Inis Oírr (Main Beach) has toilets. 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 Ennistimon — about 21 km away.