Ross Beach, Killala
Good to go
No current pollution alerts — always assess conditions yourself.
Checked against the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) · data last changed 1 month ago.
Sea conditions
Water temperature
14.4°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
Ross strand is a sandy beach located along the shoreline of Killala Bay. It has an extensive triangular estuary with mudflats lining the sides of the channel. Habitats include an extensive triangular estuary with mudflats, saltmarshes and sand dunes. These habitats support a wide variety of vegetation and wildlife species. Ross Beach forms part of the 004036 Killala Bay/Moy Estuary (SPA) & 000458 Killala Bay/Moy Estuary (SAC) Killala Bay is a designated Class A and B Shellfish Production Area. Activities include surfing, canoeing and anglers. The bathing area is approximately 0.30km wide. The bathing water is approximately 0.60km2 in area. The medium and maximum water depth within the designated bathing water is 0.5m and 4.0m respectively depending on the tides.
This spot’s record
Ross Beach, Killala is in Mayo, about 7 km from Inishcrone. Ross Beach, Killala 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 1,650 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 2 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 | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 2 Sept | 1650 | 1000 | Poor |
| 24 Aug | 10 | 3 | Excellent |
| 10 Aug | 10 | 29 | Excellent |
| 20 Jul | 10 | 2 | Excellent |
| 6 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
- Yes
- Dogs
- YesDogs only allowed before 12pm and after 6.30pm during the bathing season (1st June to 15th September) otherwise allowed at all times onto beach.
- Public transport
- No
Official water quality
Classified Excellent in 2025.
Ross Beach, Killala is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Ross Beach, Killala 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 Ross Beach, Killala right now?
- Ross Beach, Killala 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 Ross Beach, Killala?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Ross Beach, Killala 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 Ross Beach, Killala?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Ross Beach, Killala. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Ross Beach, Killala?
- Yes — Ross Beach, Killala has lifeguard cover. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Ross Beach, Killala?
- Ross Beach, Killala has toilets, parking, accessible entry. Facility information is published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland).
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Nearby swimming spots
See all swimming spots near Inishcrone — about 7 km away.