What is the best sea side resort in Ireland

Rimmy

Few like tramore and Ballyheige.

With the Covid now In Ireland where is the best place to head

Ipso

Rossnowlagh

Spanish Eyes

How far are you willing to travel and where are you now?

I am within 5k of lots of lovely beaches, but I hate sand with a passion.

Each to their own I suppose.��

Princess Consuela Bananahammock

Rimmy wrote: »

Few like tramore and Ballyheige.

With the Covid now In Ireland where is the best place to head

It's in Ireland now?? ****! - why weren't we told?!

And, and I agree Tramore. And Lahinch on a windy day if youre not the swimming in the se kind.

Smiles35

Lot's of people are starting to travel again, especially right now with the long weekend. In Balinskelligs you get a nice view of the islands made famous by Star Wars. More than a few beaches. Your laughing with a car as it is Ring of Kerry country.

the purple tin

Bundoran

JupiterKid

Ireland really doesn’t do the “seaside resort” thing all that well - the places that are developed as seaside resorts like Bray, Bundoran or Tramore are pretty pale imitations of the ones in the UK such as Brighton, Blackpool or Bournemouth - and they themselves are very tacky and have a huge chav/scumbag element.

Much better IMO are the small fishing ports and coastal villages that are full of character - places like Dunmore East, Baltimore, Kilmore Quay, Carlingford, Roundstone, Mulranny, Keel on Achill island, Burtonport, Greencastle. And then we have amazing sandy beaches that aren’t all built up and over-developed - Rossnowlagh (amazing beach), Rosslare, Dogs Bay, Incheydoney, Inch Strand, Keem cove on Achill, Ballydowane beach on the Copper coast in Waterford to name but a few.

That said, Tramore beach is great but the town itself is actually at the western end of the beach - Lahinch, Ballybunion, Ballyheigue, Youghal (pity the town is so run down). Up north places like Portstewart, Portrush, Ballycastle, Bangor and Newcastle would feature prominently.

Amirani

Kilkee.

Not quite a resort (well, not a resort at all), but go camping some night on Dunquin Beach in Kerry (Trá Com Dhíneol), with nothing in front of you but clear skies and thousands of miles of ocean. Usually deserted, totally unforgettable.

Zaph

Spanish Eyes wrote: »

How far are you willing to travel and where are you now?

I am within 5k of lots of lovely beaches, but I hate sand with a passion.

Each to their own I suppose.��

I agree. It doesn't matter what country they're in, beaches are sh*t. Covering yourself in sun cream just so the sand can stick to you better? Fcuk that.

Hijpo

Ah good, all non essential travel is back on.
Let's flood the small seaside towns that have managed to keep infection numbers down.

Hijpo

Hijpo wrote: »

Ah good, all non essential travel is back on.
Let's flood the small seaside towns that have managed to keep infection numbers down.

Well yes, non essential travel has been given the green light again.

If small seaside towns want their locality to be economically decimated, then so be it, but i doubt they do.

Most of us are not public-health experts, so we rely on the advice of the experts who are encouraging us to holiday on the island, whilst observing social-distancing.

gogo

Hijpo wrote: »

Ah good, all non essential travel is back on.
Let's flood the small seaside towns that have managed to keep infection numbers down.

Yes they have advised us all to take a staycation this year, most counties in ireland have managed to keep infection numbers down hence why we are allowed travel.

If people don’t visit the sea side towns, there won’t be much left to visit next year, or have you a genius idea to keep these seaside towns afloat, because there is f all else going on in these towns, the beaches will still be there in a hundred years time, those shops, b&bs and hotels won’t be ...

Hijpo

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

If small seaside towns want their locality to be economically decimated, then so be it, but i doubt they do.

Most of us are not public-health experts, so we rely on the advice of the experts who are encouraging us to holiday on the island, whilst observing social-distancing.

Give me a break, a town isnt going to be economically decimated because a few tourists wont be around for a couple of months. It's like 16% of the entire year.
The ramifications of covid spreading around a small town, now that can economically decimate it.

Apologies to OP, i have brought it off topic.

Hijpo

Hijpo wrote: »

Give me a break, a town isnt going to be economically decimated because a few tourists wont be around for a couple of months. It's like 16% of the entire year.

What does 16% refer to?

Some towns on the west coast rely almost entirely on income from tourism. Of course it would destroy them to lose that. How is this even in dispute?

Hijpo

gogo wrote: »

Yes they have advised us all to take a staycation this year, most counties in ireland have managed to keep infection numbers down hence why we are allowed travel.

If people don’t visit the sea side towns, there won’t be much left to visit next year, or have you a genius idea to keep these seaside towns afloat, because there is f all else going on in these towns, the beaches will still be there in a hundred years time, those shops, b&bs and hotels won’t be ...

Common sense staycations, stay in your own county at least, people could show a little bit of consideration for the efforts of others, it shouldn't mean a free for all to increase the possibility of spreading the infection all over the place.
With the restrictions on pubs and restaurants why would you bother anyway.

Hijpo

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

What does 16% refer to?

Some towns on the west coast rely almost entirely on income from tourism. Of course it would destroy them to lose that. How is this even in dispute?

As above, a staycation, if you care about your local tourist spots stay there and support it.

gogo

Hijpo wrote: »

Common sense staycations, stay in your own county at least, people could show a little bit of consideration for others, it shouldn't mean a free for all to increase the possibility of spreading the infection all over the place.
With the restrictions on pubs and restaurants why would you bother anyway.

I was on a beach today in Donegal.. my family and one other family was there, they were at the other end of it.. we drove over 2 hours to find it.. I hope to god I didn’t infect the fish.
Most people aren’t bothered by pubs, it has no bearing on me traveling anywhere, not now, not ever. A lot restaurants I’ve been in have had locals at the counter, ‘the usual Mary’ with no food in front of them.. we’ve left those...

You really need to take a look at the economic impact of Covid.. seriously it ***will*** decimate these towns, both tourist spots and otherwise.
We all, including my kids wear masks when we’ve inside anywhere, which has mainly been sightseeing, we bought tickets and stuck to ourselves as was pretty much everyone else I saw. Weather has been great today, again no one eating inside, order food and find a spot outdoors. The only place I’ve felt uncomfortable was a SuperValu in or around Killybegs, absolute jammers (I turned around and left).

Hijpo

Hijpo wrote: »

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

What does 16% refer to?

As above, a staycation, if you care about your local tourist spots stay there and support it.

Sorry, I'm not fully clear on what you're saying here.

Are you saying that 16% represents the typical share of revenue from domestic, "staycation" travel? Obviously that's all gone out the window this year.

Just curious as to what this figure of 16% refers to, specifically?

Atlantic Dawn

I did like Salthill until it was gentrified which backfired and it became gethoised.

Canis Lupus

Jeez a lot of towns from my youth RoK have changed a lot over the years and every time I come back to Ireland some of them a touch more bleak and decrepit than ever as people move away etc.

I can't even imagine what they'll be like after covid. To suggest these lost months of business both domestic and foreign will somehow be a negligible percent is mind bogglling. Being a small business owner right now in a tourist town in Ireland must be awful.

Rubberchikken

Rosslare.
Youghal.
Inch beach.

And towns and villages and beaches need tourists. How are they to survive otherwise?

RobMc59

Tramore is pretty good and as has been said previously the beach is great,it compares favourably against English beaches.We went to Bundoran a few years ago and it wasn't too bad apart from the travellers fighting with the locals.

whisky_galore

Zaph wrote: »

I agree. It doesn't matter what country they're in, beaches are sh*t. Covering yourself in sun cream just so the sand can stick to you better? Fcuk that.

Thanks. I'm not the only one who hates this boring activity.
Pet hate are those "sun worshippers" who leave their fag butts behind or make a feeble attempt at burying them.

GeorgeSmt

Rossnowlagh is really nice

Coopaloop

We're just back from clonakilty, couldnt fault it. Spent friday afternoon on inchydoney beach, was really lovely (and I'm not normally a beach person, sand annoys me and seaweed is just plain disgusting and creepy) but this beach was gorgeous. Lots of space, kinda in a cove so not crazy windy, nice waves for surfers too. 5 min drive from clonakilty. We stayed in the clonakilty park hotel in one of the apartments, which is great with 2 young boys, hotel itself is lovely very clean, booked times for everything, all wearing masks, plenty of space in restaurant. Pool, indoor play zone (also with numbers restricted) new crazy golf, playground and a cinema. Will definitely be back.

Snails pace

Gave a few days over west in Lahinch, Doolin and down to Kilkee. Beautiful spots with good food, lots to do and nice people.

I don't live too far from Tramore and I wouldn't go near the place for a summer holiday. Went there last week for a walk on the beach and the amount of Dublin accents in their football jerseys going around the place. Go towards Dungarvan to the smaller places like Boat Strand or Clonea or the opposite direction towards Dunmore East.

Truthvader

Snails pace wrote: »

Gave a few days over west in Lahinch, Doolin and down to Kilkee. Beautiful spots with good food, lots to do and nice people.

I don't live too far from Tramore and I wouldn't go near the place for a summer holiday. Went there last week for a walk on the beach and the amount of Dublin accents in their football jerseys going around the place. Go towards Dungarvan to the smaller places like Boat Strand or Clonea or the opposite direction towards Dunmore East.

Well according to the Independent Kilkee is a disaster. Even posted a video of kids laughing and dancing. One was even eating chips. At night.

Quality journalism

NIMAN

GeorgeSmt wrote: »

Rossnowlagh is really nice

it is nice but be careful, its popular with them Northerners;)

ShatterAlan

Hijpo wrote: »

Common sense staycations, stay in your own county at least, people could show a little bit of consideration for the efforts of others, it shouldn't mean a free for all to increase the possibility of spreading the infection all over the place.
With the restrictions on pubs and restaurants why would you bother anyway.

What if your own county is Longford?

NIMAN

NIMAN wrote: »

it is nice but be careful, its popular with them Northerners;)

Just a normal day in Rossnowlagh.

https://twitter.com/donegalweatherc/status/1290335543818178560?s=21

howyanow

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

I did like Salthill until it was gentrified which backfired and it became gethoised.

Dont quite agree with you there.
Salthill is one of the most affluent parts of Ireland possibly.
It no longer has any nightclubs from the 13 nightclubs it once had which makes it a much safer place.

NIMAN

NIMAN wrote: »

it is nice but be careful, its popular with them Northerners;)

The bad kind too

Mervyn Skidmore

Enniscrone and Strandhill are nice places.

If Rossnowlagh beach wasn’t a public road then it would be hands down one of the best in the country. But I’ve been there on a very hot and very packed day and if you lie down to sunbathe all you have is exhaust fumes up your nose. There is a part of the beach closed off to cars but not enough of it.

Mullaghmore beach and surrounding area much nicer.

chosen1

ShatterAlan wrote: »

What if your own county is Longford?

Centerparcs? Just one of the biggest holiday resorts in the country.

Jim Root

RobMc59 wrote: »

Tramore is pretty good and as has been said previously the beach is great,it compares favourably against English beaches.We went to Bundoran a few years ago and it wasn't too bad apart from the travellers fighting with the locals.

My experience of Bundoran is that it is a filthy kip, wouldn’t bring my kids there again.

Gregor Samsa

Kilkee and Lahinch are jammers at the moment (have driven through them both a number of times over the past few days), even though the beaches are closed due to E. coli from the rain runoff. I really don’t see the attraction of hanging around a small town with a load of other people when you have a potential viral epidemic on the land, and a potential bacterial epidemic in the sea. But to each their own.

Fann Linn

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

Kilkee and Lahinch are jammers at the moment (have driven through them both a number of times over the past few days), even though the beaches are closed due to E. coli from the rain runoff. I really don’t see the attraction of hanging around a small town with a load of other people when you have a potential viral epidemic on the land, and a potential bacterial epidemic in the sea. But to each their own.

Just back from Strandhill in Sligo and that was wedged too. No parking available anywhere so just continued driving on.

Truthvader

Gregor Samsa wrote: »

Kilkee and Lahinch are jammers at the moment (have driven through them both a number of times over the past few days), even though the beaches are closed due to E. coli from the rain runoff. I really don’t see the attraction of hanging around a small town with a load of other people when you have a potential viral epidemic on the land, and a potential bacterial epidemic in the sea. But to each their own.

Kilkee pull this rain runoff bullcrap every year. Truth is they fush their toilets into the sea. What is LPT money being spent on? Complete disgrace

Coopaloop

Coopaloop wrote: »

We're just back from clonakilty, couldnt fault it. Spent friday afternoon on inchydoney beach, was really lovely (and I'm not normally a beach person, sand annoys me and seaweed is just plain disgusting and creepy) but this beach was gorgeous. Lots of space, kinda in a cove so not crazy windy, nice waves for surfers too. 5 min drive from clonakilty. We stayed in the clonakilty park hotel in one of the apartments, which is great with 2 young boys, hotel itself is lovely very clean, booked times for everything, all wearing masks, plenty of space in restaurant. Pool, indoor play zone (also with numbers restricted) new crazy golf, playground and a cinema. Will definitely be back.

Are those clonakilty apartments attached to Inchydoney, on the beach? Do they still offer a glass of "Irish Mist" at check-in?

I almost vomited in reception the only time I was there. It tastes like a mixture of Mountain dew and prescription-strength deodorant.

The hotel, beach and the whole area is lovely though! Just a pity it's a bitch to drive to.

Coopaloop

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Are those clonakilty apartments attached to Inchydoney, on the beach? Do they still offer a glass of "Irish Mist" at check-in?

I almost vomited in reception the only time I was there. It tastes like a mixture of Mountain dew and prescription-strength deodorant.

The hotel, beach and the whole area is lovely though! Just a pity it's a bitch to drive to.

No it was apartments attached onto the clonakilty park hotel, less than 10 min drive to inchydoney. But you're right about the irish mist, have tasted it once before, never again!

Coopaloop

Coopaloop wrote: »

No it was apartments attached onto the clonakilty park hotel, less than 10 min drive to inchydoney. But you're right about the irish mist, have tasted it once before, never again!

Ah! Wait I know the place you're talking about. Yeah that's a lovely spot, we've been looking at places to go in August so might just give this one a go. Love Clonakilty but don't want to be swarmed with tourists, which I suspect it isn't.

Coopaloop

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Ah! Wait I know the place you're talking about. Yeah that's a lovely spot, we've been looking at places to go in August so might just give this one a go. Love Clonakilty but don't want to be swarmed with tourists, which I suspect it isn't.

Definitely recommend this place, had everything we needed for 2 boys under 7, plenty for them to do, food was good too, really couldnt fault it, took a detour on the way down and stopped off at fota wildlife.

Irish_rat

Why would you want to go to a seaside resort to share a beach with at least a few hundred other stinky people nearly on top of you.

There is plenty of quiet beaches that you can have all to yourself.

RandomViewer

West Donegal, beaches ,mountains, river and lake fishing,

Mervyn Skidmore

Irish_rat wrote: »

Why would you want to go to a seaside resort to share a beach with at least a few hundred other stinky people nearly on top of you.

There is plenty of quiet beaches that you can have all to yourself.

Yes, but if you're staying a few days or a week it's nice to have access to a shop, restaurant, etc. Of course you could just fill the boot before you go either.

Anyway, totally forgot that I stayed in Portnoo about 5 years ago, lovely spot.

CrankyHaus

A Tyrant Named Miltiades! wrote: »

Not quite a resort (well, not a resort at all), but go camping some night on Dunquin Beach in Kerry (Trá Com Dhíneol), with nothing in front of you but clear skies and thousands of miles of ocean. Usually deserted, totally unforgettable.

Are you sure Dunquin has a beach?
There's Coumenoole to the south, which you'd be mad to camp on overnight as the water comes right up at high tide, and Clogher to the north. It's a lovely part of the country, with some great beaches nearby, but you might be thinking of a sightly different spot.