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Beaches & Water Quality

Beach information, bathing-water quality, coastal conditions, environmental monitoring and practical updates for communities and visitors around Ireland.

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DUBLIN • IDENTIFIED BEACH

Donabate, Balcarrick Beach

Fingal County Council

Excellent
SWIMMING STATUS TODAY

No active EPA restriction shown

EPA alert data last synced 24 Aug 2026, 03:20.

NO ACTIVE ALERT SHOWN
Can I swim here?No active EPA restriction shownCurrent EPA alert/restriction status
Current restrictionNone shown in current EPA alertsThis is not a guarantee of swimming conditions. Always check local signs, lifeguard instructions and the latest official advice at the beach.
Latest sampleExcellentIndividual sample result only
Last tested10 Aug 2026Latest sample stored from EPA

Current restrictions and beach signage take priority over annual classifications and individual sample results. Conditions can change between samples.

Annual EPA classification · 2025ExcellentLonger-term annual classification
Latest available sampleExcellent10 Aug 2026
E. coli<10Latest sample result
Intestinal enterococci22Latest sample result
Next monitoring24 Aug 2026EPA schedule where available
Short-term pollution riskYesEPA location profile field

EPA annual assessment

Donabate, Balcarrick Beach is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Donabate, Balcarrick Beach achieved an Excellent Water Quality rating for the four consecutive years 2022 to 2025. 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.

Annual water quality history

2025Excellent
2024Excellent
2023Excellent
2022Excellent

Recent water samples

DateSample statusE. coliIntestinal enterococci
10 Aug 2026Excellent<1022
27 Jul 2026Excellent205
13 Jul 2026Excellent204
29 Jun 2026Excellent102
15 Jun 2026Excellent6320
2 Jun 2026Excellent<101
25 May 2026Excellent<10<1

Facilities & access

Blue FlagYes
Green CoastYes
LifeguardYes
First aidYes
LifebuoyYes
ToiletsYes
ParkingYes
AccessibleNo
Beach wheelchairYes
Public transportNo
Information boardYes
Litter binYes
RecyclingYes
Natural sensitive areaNo

About this bathing water

Donabate Balcarrick beach is a south-east facing, gently sloping sandy beach consisting of a large sandy dune area.