Beach Treasures and Treasure Beaches

Beautiful Galway City is located in County Galway on the western coast of Ireland. According to the Galway Tourism website, “Galway City is a thriving, bohemian, cultural city…Along with being a popular seaside destination with beautiful beaches and long winding promenade, it also has a buzzing cosmopolitan city centre.”

County Galway, Ireland (Asarlaí/Wikimedia Commons)

Today’s “Tuesday Tally” is Galway’s best 5 beaches, as presented by Galway Ireland Tourism.

Dog’s Bay and Gorteen Bay from Errisbeg. Looking south. Dog’s Bay is on the western side. (Dr. Charles Nelson/Geograph Project Collection/Wikimedia Commons)

Back to back beaches, Dogs Bay and Gurteen Bay are “two of the most beautiful beaches in County Galway and probably in the West of Ireland.” Only a couple of miles outside of Roundstone in Connemara, County Galway, these bays make a fine stretch of coast, with amazing views and white sandy beaches (made from seashell fragments). Both beaches are considered safe for swimming and water sports. They also make fabulous walking destinations.

Silver Strand, Barna. Silver Strand is one of Galway’s most popular Blue Flag beaches. In the distance are the hills of the Burren. (Trish Steel/Geograph Project Collection/Wikimedia Commons)

Silver Strand Beach in Barna, Galway “has a safe, shallow, sandy beach of approximately 0.25km bounded on one side by a cliff and the other by rocks. It is particularly popular with and suitable for young families.” Facing straight into Galway Bay, this beach offers fantastic views. Low tide is the best time for swimming, and there is a lifeguard on duty during summer months.

Coral Beach (Trá an Dóilín), Carraroe, County Galway, Ireland (Emkaer/Wikimedia Commons)

Coral Beach in Carraroe (aka Trá an Dóilin) is “an area of great natural beauty.” Known for its fine coral, this area has tidepools to explore and good snorkeling, too.

The seaside diving board off the promenade in Salthill, Co Galway. (Terence wiki/Wikimedia Commons)

Salthill Beach (in Galway City overlooking Galway Bay) is actually several small beaches that are separated by outcrops. This very popular blue flag beach has lifeguards on duty from mid-May through the end of September.

Another blue flag beach, Kilmurvey Beach (Inis Mor, Aran Islands, County Galway) sports beautiful sand and safe swimming, and “when the tide is right, you can jump off the old pier into the clear water.” There are facilities near the roads, and some great spots on the dunes to picnic.

Hit any of these five beaches for great views and beautiful water. This is the perfect time of year to hit the beach in Galway, Ireland! Féach leat níos déanaí (see you later)!

Sunset – Galway Bay View from Tawin Island (Allan Harty/Geograph Project Collection/Wikimedia Commons)