Trá na mBan, An Spidéal
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
15.2°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 mBan is a popular bathing area consisting of a mixture of rocky foreshore and sandy areas which are covered at high tide. Trá na mBan supports a variety of animals, birds, shellfish and plants. Seals and otters may be spotted off the coast. Activities include swimming, bathing and watersports.
This spot’s record
Trá na mBan, An Spidéal is in Galway, about 17 km from Galway. Trá na mBan, An Spidéal was rated Good in 2025 by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). Its previous classifications were Poor in 2023 and Poor 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 246 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 27 July 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 | 20 | 26 | Excellent |
| 24 Aug | 10 | 2 | Excellent |
| 10 Aug | 10 | 4 | Excellent |
| 29 Jul | 52 | 8 | Excellent |
| 27 Jul | 246 | 260 | Poor |
| 6 Jul | 10 | 4 | 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
- Poor2022
- Poor2023
- Not classified2024
- Good2025
This water has improved, from Poor in 2022 to Good in 2025.
Facilities & access
- Lifeguard
- Yes12-6 weekends July Aug during a typical lifeguard season
- Parking
- Yes
- Toilets
- Yes
- Accessible entry
- No
- Dogs
- Yes
- Public transport
- YesThere is a public bus stop nearby.
Official water quality
Classified Good in 2025.
Trá na mBan, An Spidéal is classified as achieving Good Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the periond 2024 to 2025. Trá na mBan, An Spidéal was assigned as changes class in 2024 following the commission of a new wastewater treatment plant in 2023. Trá na mBan, An Spidéal had a Poor Water Quality rating in 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 mBan, An Spidéal right now?
- Trá na mBan, An Spidéal 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 mBan, An Spidéal?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Trá na mBan, An Spidéal 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 mBan, An Spidéal?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Trá na mBan, An Spidéal. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Trá na mBan, An Spidéal?
- Yes — Trá na mBan, An Spidéal has lifeguard cover. Hours: 12-6 weekends July Aug during a typical lifeguard season. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Trá na mBan, An Spidéal?
- Trá na mBan, An Spidéal has toilets, parking. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).
This spot is also in
Get told when this changes
We’ll email you when the swim status at Trá na mBan, An Spidéal moves — a pollution alert opening, or one lifting. Not a newsletter: only this spot, only when it changes, at most once every 12 hours.
Your address is used for these alerts and nothing else, is never shared, and is deleted the moment you unsubscribe — a link is in every email.
Nearby swimming spots
See all swimming spots near Galway — about 17 km away.