Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha
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
0.6 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 na bhForbacha is a sandy beach and can be subject to very strong wave action and currents. The beach supports a wide variety of shellfish, birds, animals and plants. Seals and otters may be spotted along the coastline. Trá na bhForbacha is a proposed Natural Heritage Area. Activities include swimming, bathing and water sports.
This spot’s record
Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha is in Galway, about 12 km from Galway. Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha was rated Good in 2025 by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). Its previous classifications were Excellent in 2024, Excellent in 2023 and Excellent in 2022, so the rating here has moved rather than held. Across the 12 most recent samples published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland), E. coli counts ranged from 10 to 546 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 28 July 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 | 63 | 7 | Excellent |
| 24 Aug | 10 | 2 | Excellent |
| 10 Aug | 20 | 2 | Excellent |
| 27 Jul | 52 | 23 | Excellent |
| 6 Jul | 41 | 9 | Excellent |
| 22 Jun | 31 | 3 | 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
- Good2025
This water has declined, from Excellent in 2022 to Good in 2025.
Facilities & access
- Lifeguard
- No
- Parking
- Yes
- Toilets
- No
- Accessible entry
- No
- Dogs
- Yes
- Public transport
- No
Official water quality
Classified Good in 2025.
Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha is classified as achieving Good Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha achieved an Excellent 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 Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha right now?
- Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha 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 na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha as Good 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 na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha?
- No lifeguard cover is listed for Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha. Never swim alone at an unguarded spot.
- What facilities are there at Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha?
- Trá na bhForbacha, Na Forbacha has parking. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).
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Nearby swimming spots
See all swimming spots near Galway — about 12 km away.