A Cork beach is one of the top five sea swimming spots in Ireland
You can’t beat a dip in the sea.
And one of Cork’s most beloved swimming spots has made a list of the top five sea swimming locations in Ireland.
Myrtleville Beach, which is just a short distance from the city centre, making it popular for families as well as cold water swimming groups, came in at number five on the list, which features iconic spots such as Banna Beach in Kerry, The Forty Foot and Vico Baths in Dublin.
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Based on Google Trends data gathered by The Lagoon Activity Centre in Rosscarbery between January 1st, 2020, and July 31st, 2025, as well as Instagram hashtags, Ireland’s most popular sea swimming spot is Blackrock Beach in Salthill, Galway.
As well as making the top five, Cork is also the county with most Green Coast Awards in 2025.
Safety in numbers
When swimming, there’s no room for underestimating the power of the sea.
Paul Melody of The Lagoon Activity Centre is no stranger to its unpredictability, and he says that if someone is going to give sea swimming a go, group swimming is one of the safest ways of doing it: “They say there’s safety in numbers and I would apply that to sea swimming.
“Clubs are great not only for the community element and health benefits, but for safety. The sea can change in an instant, and while it’s assumed everyone would be a good swimmer, it’s reassuring to go out as a group.”
