Inchydoney Beach

Take your family or friends and head to Inchydoney for an experience everyone will love. Located on the southern tip of Ireland, the beach is just outside Clonakilty in County Cork. Inchydoney Beach (Inse Duine in Irish) is often praised as one of Ireland’s most stunning beaches—and it’s easy to see why. Lined by beautiful white sand and azure waters, the coast is perfect for surfing or relaxing.

Beloved spot
Located 5km southeast of the lovely village of Clonakilty and 57km southwest of Cork City, Inchydoney Beach is beloved among tourists and locals alike. Families with children also gladly choose this spot for a family vacation, making it renowned as one of the most family-friendly beaches in West Cork. 

As a fine place for a walk or a paddle, the beach is no wonder the area’s main attraction. You can spend several hours strolling the shores, soaking in the sun, splashing in the water, playing volleyball—or many other things you usually enjoy at the beach. The surf school on the beach is another excellent activity for the whole family.

Its clear Blue Flag waters make it ideal for swimming and bathing. The bathing area is approximately 450m long, and the beach is relatively gently sloping. Frequently ranked one of the best beaches in Ireland, this idyllic beach has light-coloured sand and lovely countryside nearby. The area is buzzing with visitors and sun-seekers in the summertime, but there is plenty of room, and the beaches are never overrun. There’s a lifeguard service during high season for added peace of mind. Do not enter the water if in doubt, and keep a wary eye on the tide. Understanding water safety is crucial when visiting beaches in Ireland.

There are two car parks nearby. One belongs to a popular hotel in West Cork. As it is designated for hotel guests, it tends to be busy. A second car park is at the western end. During peak season, it can be challenging to nab a spot here.

Surfing classes or wildlife tour
The beach attracts skilled surfers and is considered suitable for beginners. Complete beginner surfers, as well as those with more experience, will enjoy surfing at Inchydoney Beach. Large and smooth waves are to the right of the Virgin Mary Headland, which divides the beach into two parts. There are surf schools nearby and equipment rentals if you don’t want to haul your board down to the beach. Inchydoney Surf School is Cork's oldest surf school, which has been running for 22 years. You can book mixed-age lessons to try your hand at the water sport. All instructors are fully certified and local surfers, so they will have all the tips and tricks you need to get started. Classes start from €30 and last for 90 minutes. The weather forecast and a detailed 7-day tidal forecast for Inchydoney are worth consulting when planning a holiday. Visitors should check tide times and surf conditions before surfing.

Atlantic Whale Watching and Wildlife tours run from Courtmacsherry and will take you to explore along the coast with experienced skippers. Search for humpbacks, fin whales, dolphins and seals, basking sharks, and sunfish. You might even be lucky enough to spot an Orca or Killer Whale.

Dramatic stories
The beach is backed by sand dunes. The Virgin Mary's headland divides the beach into two parts. It is a smallish rock outcrop that extends out into the sands. As the beach is open to rough weather conditions, there are stories and legends about sailors and shipwrecks. In 1642, around 600 Irish rebels drowned as the incoming tide trapped them.

It is said that a ship came in once, and the sailors saw a beautiful woman praying on the bank. All the sailors but one began to mock her. Suddenly, a great storm arose, and the ship was blown to pieces. All the sailors were drowned except the one who took no part in the mockery. When the storm ceased, the lady brought the drowning sailor ashore.

If you doubt this story's veracity, look at the knee-prints on the Virgin Mary’s Bank rock. In August 1932, 22-year-old Timothy O’Sullivan and 19-year-old Joseph Santry drowned due to rough sea conditions. A carving on the formation just below Virgin Mary’s Bank commemorates the tragedy. A Wild Atlantic Way information board close to Virgin Mary’s Bank mentions another incident more recently.

A link with the past
Inchydoney Beach is on an island promontory connected to the mainland by two causeways. The 1840s map depicts the island surrounded by water, with one causeway on the northwest side linking it to the nearby mainland. Later, the map shows how causeway dams were built to enclose areas of reclaimed land, joining the former island to the mainland. The causeways are visible if you approach the island from the west. Historical records suggest that the Congested Districts Board constructed the causeway system in the 1840s, probably as a famine relief scheme. Workers were paid a penny daily, and on the first day of work, nine people died, probably from malnutrition.

From a Somerset family background, Richard Hungerford owned a substantial part of the island in 1690, and his descendants lived there until the early 1900s. They rebuilt Inchydoney House in the early 1800s; it still stands. The most notable building on the island today is the Inchodoney Island Lodge & Spa. It replaces the earlier Inchydoney Ocean Hotel, built in the 1930s. It has a ballroom where dances and fancy-dress parties are held, which always go into the early morning hours. A gorgeous outdoor amphitheatre-style venue makes it a well-known wedding destination.

If you are enthusiastic about evening entertainment, spend the night in the charming seaside town of Clonakilty. Known for its nightlife, festivals, and shopping, Clonakilty offers the perfect destination for an exciting holiday. Completely untouched, the sandy beach with its fresh Blue Flag waters is ideal for surfing, shelling, rock pooling and sandcastle building. What more could you wish for on a sunny summer’s day?