Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane)
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
13.9°C
Chilly — most swimmers want a wetsuit
Wave height
2.0 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
Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) is a south westerly facing sandy beach backing onto sand dunes. It is exposed to Atlantic wave action and westerly winds. The beach is backed by a sand-dune system, and beyond this is a mixture of woodland, wetland and un-enclosed upland/rough grazing. Activities include swimming, walking, surfing and windsurfing, canoeing and angling. The identified bathing water is approximately 160m in length, however, it is part of a larger beach which extends from Abbey Island eastwards beyond Derrynane House.
This spot’s record
Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) is in Kerry, about 20 km from Castletownbere. Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) 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), every E. coli count came back at 10 per 100 ml.
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 | 1 | Excellent |
| 24 Aug | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 17 Aug | 10 | 5 | Excellent |
| 10 Aug | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 27 Jul | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 20 Jul | 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
- Yes
- Parking
- Yes
- Toilets
- Yes
- Accessible entry
- YesRamp
- Dogs
- NoDogs are not allowed on the Blue-Flag section of the Beach (ie. within the Lifeguard Patrol area) between 11am and 7pm each day from the 1st June to 15th September inclusive.
- Public transport
- No
Official water quality
Classified Excellent in 2025.
Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) 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 Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) right now?
- Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) 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 Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane)?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) 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 Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane)?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane). That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane)?
- Yes — Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) has lifeguard cover. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane)?
- Doire Fhíonáin (Derrynane) 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 Castletownbere — about 20 km away.