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DONEGAL • IDENTIFIED BEACH

Ballyhiernan, Fanad

Donegal County Council

Excellent
SWIMMING STATUS TODAY

No active EPA restriction shown

EPA alert data last synced 19 Oct 2026, 13:50.

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 tested8 Sep 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 sampleExcellent8 Sep 2026
E. coli<10Latest sample result
Intestinal enterococci3Latest sample result
Next monitoring—EPA schedule where available
Short-term pollution riskYesEPA location profile field

EPA annual assessment

Ballyhiernan, Fanad is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Ballyhiernan, Fanad 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.

Annual water quality history

2025Excellent
2024Excellent
2023Excellent
2022Excellent

Recent water samples

DateSample statusE. coliIntestinal enterococci
8 Sep 2026Excellent<103
11 Aug 2026Excellent<10<1
14 Jul 2026Excellent<10<1
23 Jun 2026Excellent<10<1
2 Jun 2026Excellent201
26 May 2026Excellent10<1

Facilities & access

Blue FlagNo
Green CoastYes
LifeguardNo
First aidNo
LifebuoyNo
ToiletsNo
ParkingYes
AccessibleNo
Beach wheelchairNo
Public transportNo
Information boardYes
Litter binYes
RecyclingNo
Natural sensitive areaYes

About this bathing water

Ballyhiernan beach is a north facing, long sandy beach consisting of sandy dunes. There are three bays on the beach Carrickachurdin Bay, Kinlackagh Bay and Trabane Bay. Ballyhiernan Beach has a wide variety of wildlife including a vast variety of birds and two notable animal species have been spotted on the site, the Common Frog and Irish Hare. Activities include swimming, kayaking, boating, surfing, windsurfing, sailing, power boating, jet skiing, diving and other land based activities on the beach.

Official information

Managed by Donegal County Council.

Open EPA beach profile