Beach information, bathing-water quality, coastal conditions, environmental monitoring and practical updates for communities and visitors around Ireland.
Ireland continues to have overwhelmingly high bathing-water standards, with 98 per cent of officially designated sites meeting the required standard in the latest national…
Read articleWestmeath County Council
EPA alert data last synced 24 Aug 2026, 03:20.
Current restrictions and beach signage take priority over annual classifications and individual sample results. Conditions can change between samples.
Portnashangan, Lough Owel is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Portnashangan, Lough Owel has 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.
| Date | Sample status | E. coli | Intestinal enterococci |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 Aug 2026 | Excellent | 3 | 1 |
| 27 Jul 2026 | Excellent | 2 | 6 |
| 13 Jul 2026 | Excellent | 4 | 2 |
| 29 Jun 2026 | Excellent | 4 | 4 |
| 15 Jun 2026 | Excellent | 1 | 1 |
| 2 Jun 2026 | Excellent | 5 | 31 |
| 25 May 2026 | Excellent | <1 | 7 |
Portnashangan is an inland water bathing area located on the shores of Lough Owel. It is a relatively shallow lake with a rocky, marl covered bottom. Lough Owel supports a diverse aquatic flora; such as pond weed and stoneworts. The bathing area is a popular bathing area. Jet ski bye laws prohibit use of jet skis on the lake. The bathing area extends over an area of approximately 50meters wide and 130 meters long (c.0.62Ha).
Managed by Westmeath County Council.
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