Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East
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
14.7°C
Chilly — most swimmers want a wetsuit
Wave height
1.8 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
Counsellors Strand is a sandy beach with a gentle slope, set within a large steep sided cove. The cove surrounding the beach consists of striking red sandstone cliffs and geological features, such as folding, can be seen in the surrounding cliffs. The cliffs support a variety of seabirds not least being the colony of kittiwakes which nest along the face of the cliffs. Above the beach and cove there is a grassed area suitable for picnics and viewing. The designated bathing area is approximately 100 metres long and 75 metres wide (at low tide). Activities include swimming, bodyboarding and kayaking. An adventure centre is located at the harbour offering a variety of water sports and land based activities such as rock-climbing.
This spot’s record
Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East is in Waterford, about 14 km from Waterford. Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East was rated Good in 2025 by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland). Its previous classifications were Excellent in 2024, Good in 2023 and Good 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 31 per 100 ml. The highest was taken on 13 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 Sept | 31 | 31 | Excellent |
| 24 Aug | 10 | 5 | Excellent |
| 10 Aug | 10 | 8 | Excellent |
| 27 Jul | 10 | 5 | Excellent |
| 13 Jul | 31 | 5 | Excellent |
| 29 Jun | 10 | 6 | 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
- Good2022
- Good2023
- Excellent2024
- Good2025
This water's rating has varied over the last 4 years.
Facilities & access
- Lifeguard
- Yes
- Parking
- Yes
- Toilets
- Yes
- Accessible entry
- No
- Dogs
- NoNo dogs allowed between 11am to 7pm, June, July and August
- Public transport
- YesPublic buses
Official water quality
Classified Good in 2025.
Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East is classified as achieving Good Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East achieved an Excellent Water Quality rating in 2024 and a Good 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 Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East right now?
- Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East 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 Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East?
- the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) classified Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East 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 Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East?
- There are no active bathing restrictions published by the Environmental Protection Agency (Ireland) for Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East. That is not a guarantee of safety — assess conditions yourself.
- Is there a lifeguard at Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East?
- Yes — Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East has lifeguard cover. Cover is seasonal; check locally before relying on it.
- What facilities are there at Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East?
- Counsellors' Strand, Dunmore East has toilets, parking. 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 Waterford — about 14 km away.