The Lagoon Activity Centre has revealed the results of a new study ranking Ireland's top sea swimming beaches, coinciding with National Water Safety Awareness Week.
The study examined a range of factors, including average temperature, rainfall, and 'Instagrammability', to determine the best spots for a refreshing dip in the sea.
The top three sea swimming beaches in Ireland, according to the study, are Killiney in Co. Dublin, Inch Beach in Co. Kerry, and Portmarnock Beach, also in Co. Dublin.
The study, conducted by researchers at The Lagoon Activity Centre, ranked Blue Flag beaches across the country by calculating their average temperature and rainfall based on Met Eireann data from the nearest weather station. In addition to these factors, the 'Instagrammability' of each beach was determined by examining the amount of hashtag mentions each area received on the Meta platform, giving each a score out of 300.
The top 10 best sea swimming beaches are as follows;
Killiney, Co. Dublin
Inch, Co. Kerry
Portmarnock, Co. Dublin
Silverstrand, Co. Galway
Banna Strand, Co. Kerry
Curracloe, Co. Wexford
Seapoint, Co. Dublin
Fanore, Co. Clare
Rossbeigh, Co. Kerry
Youghal, Co. Cork
Paul Melody, director of The Lagoon Activity Centre, said; "Sea swimming has become hugely popular in recent years, especially amongst the younger cohorts - It seems like every Instagram influencer and TikTok star are organising sea swimming sessions with their followers on a Saturday morning, so when calculating our findings we made sure that we factored in the "Instagram quality" of each beach. So, if you're looking to have a nice, warm, picturesque sea swim this Summer it looks like you'll be heading to Killiney - Although in our biased opinion the correct answer is Warren Strand on our doorstep here in Rosscarbery!"
The Irish bathing season runs from June 1 to September 15, which coincides with the Blue Flag season. Beaches are only awarded Blue Flag status if they adhere to a strict number of criteria, including environmental information and education, water quality, safety and services, and environmental management.
National Water Safety Awareness Week runs from June 17 to June 23, and everyone at The Lagoon Activity Centre would like to take this opportunity to remind the public of the importance of water safety.
"If you're heading out on the water this year, it is absolutely crucial to prioritise safety in order to prevent accidents and ensure safe, enjoyable experiences for all. Always swim within designated areas, be aware of the weather and water conditions, never swim alone and be mindful of rip currents and tides," concluded Paul Melody.
