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CORK • IDENTIFIED BEACH

Garretstown

Cork County Council

Excellent
SWIMMING STATUS TODAY

No active EPA restriction shown

EPA alert data last synced 19 Oct 2026, 13:36.

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 tested1 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 sampleExcellent1 Sep 2026
E. coli<10Latest sample result
Intestinal enterococci5Latest sample result
Next monitoring—EPA schedule where available
Short-term pollution riskYesEPA location profile field

EPA annual assessment

Garretstown is classified as achieving Excellent Water Quality in 2025 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2022 to 2025. Garretstown 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
1 Sep 2026Excellent<105
17 Aug 2026Excellent31<1
20 Jul 2026Excellent314
22 Jun 2026Excellent311
26 May 2026Excellent<10<1

Facilities & access

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

About this bathing water

Garrettstown Beach is a south facing, gently sloping, sandy beach which is flanked on both sides by rocky cliffs. It is quite open to rough weather and rough seas. Garretstown Marsh is located north of the beach. Garretstown Beach is surrounded by Natural Heritage Area, Special Protection Area and Special Areas of Conservation areas although it is not part of them. The beach is used to some extent by anglers, walkers, surfers and windsurfers.

Official information

Managed by Cork County Council.

Open EPA beach profile