Maharabeg
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
14.3°C
Chilly — most swimmers want a wetsuit
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
Maharabeg Beach is a sandy beach, with a shingle ridge, and faces east/south-east into Tralee Bay. It is largely sheltered from severe wave activity and from the prevailing winds by virtue of its orientation and its location on the Maharees Peninsula. Maharabeg beach consists of fixed marram-dunes which support a wide range of vegetation. Other vegetation includes an area of coastal grassland to the rear of the site. A significant portion of the contributing catchment of Maharabeg Beach is located within the Tralee Bay and Magharees Peninsula Special Area of Conservation (Site Code 002070). Activities include swimming, angling and a range of other water sports. The bathing area is approximately 700m in length and is located on the eastern side of the Maharees Peninsula.
This spot’s record
Maharabeg is in Kerry, about 22 km from Tralee. Maharabeg 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 53 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 7 September 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sept | 53 | 28 | Excellent |
| 24 Aug | 10 | 9 | Excellent |
| 17 Aug | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 10 Aug | 10 | 11 | Excellent |
| 27 Jul | 10 | 2 | 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.
Maharabeg is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Maharabeg 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 Maharabeg right now?
- Maharabeg 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 Maharabeg?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Maharabeg 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 Maharabeg?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Maharabeg. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Maharabeg?
- Yes — Maharabeg has lifeguard cover. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Maharabeg?
- Maharabeg has toilets, parking, accessible entry. Dogs are restricted. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).
This spot is also in
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Nearby swimming spots
See all swimming spots near Tralee — about 22 km away.