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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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CORK • IDENTIFIED BEACH

Garryvoe

Cork County Council

Good
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 · 2025GoodLonger-term annual classification
Latest available sampleExcellent10 Aug 2026
E. coli<10Latest sample result
Intestinal enterococci<1Latest sample result
Next monitoring7 Sep 2026EPA schedule where available
Short-term pollution riskYesEPA location profile field

EPA annual assessment

Garryvoe is classified as achieving Good Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Garryvoe achieved a Good Water Quality rating for 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

2025Good
2024Good
2023Good
2022Good

Recent water samples

DateSample statusE. coliIntestinal enterococci
10 Aug 2026Excellent<10<1
13 Jul 2026Excellent12220
22 Jun 2026Excellent103
25 May 2026Excellent<1074

Facilities & access

Blue FlagNo
Green CoastNo
LifeguardYes
First aidYes
LifebuoyYes
ToiletsYes
ParkingYes
AccessibleYes
Beach wheelchairNo
Public transportNo
Information boardYes
Litter binYes
RecyclingYes
Natural sensitive areaYes

About this bathing water

Garryvoe beach is a south east facing, gently sloping, sandy/pebble beach located on a long stretch of sandy coastline. It is quite open to rough weather and rough seas. There is an area of sand dunes to the rear (west). The bathing water is located within Ballycotton, Ballynamona and Shanagarry proposed Natural Heritage Area (pNHA 000076) and is also located within Ballycotton Bay Special Protection Area (SPA 004022). The beach is used to some extent by anglers, walkers, surfers and windsurfers.