Bunmahon Beach
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
14.4°C
Chilly — most swimmers want a wetsuit
Wave height
1.6 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
Bunmahon is a sandy gently sloping beach with a dune area along the roadside. Currents can be variable. The Dune area supports a variety of plant species and wildlife. The rock pools which are accessible during low tide support a variety of marine wildlife and plants. The United Nations Economic Social and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has recognised the south coast of the county between Garrarus and Ballyvoyle Head as a GeoPark; one of a network of European sites of exceptional geological interest. The coastal area is also a Special Protection Area (SPA) under the E.U. Birds Directive. The designated bathing area is approximately 500 metres long and 100 metres wide (at low tide).
This spot’s record
Bunmahon Beach is in Waterford, about 9 km from Kilmacthomas. Bunmahon Beach was rated Excellent in 2025 by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). Its previous classifications were Good in 2024, Sufficient in 2023 and Sufficient 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 560 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 15 June 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 | 111 | 4 | Excellent |
| 24 Aug | 10 | 2 | Excellent |
| 10 Aug | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 27 Jul | 10 | 4 | Excellent |
| 13 Jul | 10 | 1 | Excellent |
| 29 Jun | 42 | 15 | 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
- Sufficient2022
- Sufficient2023
- Good2024
- Excellent2025
This water has improved, from Sufficient in 2022 to Excellent in 2025.
Facilities & access
- Lifeguard
- YesYes
- Parking
- YesParking available beside the beach
- Toilets
- YesToilets are located in near proximity to the beach
- Accessible entry
- YesRamp to beach
- Dogs
- NoNo dogs allowed between 11am to 7pm, June, July and August
- Public transport
- YesPublic buses
Official water quality
Classified Excellent in 2025.
Bunmahon Beach is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Bunmahon Beach achieved a Good Water Quality rating in 2024 and Sufficient 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 Bunmahon Beach right now?
- Bunmahon Beach 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 Bunmahon Beach?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Bunmahon Beach 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 Bunmahon Beach?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Bunmahon Beach. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Bunmahon Beach?
- Yes — Bunmahon Beach has lifeguard cover. Hours: Yes. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Bunmahon Beach?
- Bunmahon Beach 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 Kilmacthomas — about 9 km away.