Beaches in County Galway

County Galway with its rugged coastline and stunning natural beauty is home to some of the most picturesque beaches in the country.  These beaches offer a mix of serene landscapes, crystal-clear waters, and unique geological features, making them perfect for a variety of activities, from relaxing strolls to adventurous water sports.  County Galway boasts a diverse array of beaches from inland lake beaches to stunning coastal and island shores. 

Beach Byelaws

County Galway’s current Beach Bye-Laws date from 1997.  

Designated Bathing Areas

Under European and Irish law, local authorities are required to designate official bathing areas in their area every year so they can be monitored for safety, water quality, and their level of use.   If you are a regular swimmer and want to make a proposal on a designated bathing area in the local authority area, please contact the Environment Department. 

In proposing a new site, you should consider the following: 

• How your swimming area has been used up to now
• How many people use the site
• What facilities exist at the site and how accessible it is
•  Any safety issues 

Bathing Water Quality

Galway County Council is responsible for managing and monitoring water quality at designated bathing areas, by arranging for water samples to be taken and analyzed throughout the bathing season.   All bathing water monitoring information is available on https://www.beaches.ie/ where you can access the most up-to-date published data on water quality designation of each beach, which is classified as either ‘excellent’, ‘good’, ‘sufficient’ or ‘poor’.   

The designated beaches in County Galway for 2025 are available here: 

Beach wheelchairs and lifeguard services

Beach Wheelchairs are available at 5 of the above Blue Flag Beaches: 

Traught Kinvara, Céibh an Spidéal, An Trá Mhór Indreabhán, Cill Mhuirbhigh Inis Mór, and Trá an Dóilín An Cheathrú Rua. 

You can book the Beach Wheelchair by calling to the Lifeguard Hut during lifeguard hours of operation.  Lifeguard patrol days and times are displayed on the information noticeboard at each Blue Flag Beach. For more information on water safety and the lifeguard service, please visit Galway County and City Shared Beach Lifeguard Service | Galway County Council