I swear my whole life took on a new perspective when I realised I was living less than a km from…read morethis beach. There's just something about the sea air and the sound of the waves that makes everything feel like it's just fine. It's quite a rocky beach, so unless you know the tides very well, sandcastle enthusiasts will be very disappointed. At low tide, it's just flat enough for a run, but otherwise it's a bit of an obstacle course. The water seems to be clear enough, occasionally more sea-weedy but I think if you could handle the cold you could have quite a nice swim here! As far as I know you can walk all the way to Bray on this stretch, though admittedly I never had the energy. Lovely place for a walk with your dog, or to plonk down and contemplate life.

Inch Beach is a great place to stop at when driving to Dingle. If you are lucky, your visit will…read morehave perfect weather and limited wind. The beach is beautiful and you can drive your car on it when the tide is low.

You won't be guaranteed good weather at Inch beach but it's an expansive and generally clean beach…read morethat attracts surfers. A great place to take a wander and enjoy the scenery.

For a person who hates the cold sea, splashworld is a safe haven.. Ive gone on holiday in tramore…read moreevery summer since i was a young child. Splashworld has 2 big slides for kids one dark and one light that have twists and turns. It has a small slide into the main pool ideal for young kids. There is a toddlers area aswell with slides and such in a child themed way. there is a small lazy river for kids and adults alike. Every 15 or 30 minutes there is a wave machine turned on which can be enjoyed by all but i wouldnt recommend for toddlers. There are lifeguards on duty at all times including the 2 big slides. There is a sauna(steamroom) in the pool area for adults to relax and a viewing area for the non swimmers. And if your staying in the pebblebeach resort you can get a discount for your trip to splashworld. Splashworld is great entertainment for all the family. Find this and more Gyms and Leisure Centres in Waterford at http://gyms-in-waterford.blogspot.com

The main feature in Splashworld is a 25 metre pool which was especially built for family fun - it…read morehas a wave machine, an extended shallow side, and lots of greenery and fun stuff for kids, including a pirate theme on the walls. They also cater for those who want to actually swim rather than play in the pool, dedicating times for lane swimming both early morning and after work. A swimming club uses the pool regularly also. Upstairs is a fully equipped gym. Great family friendly changing rooms. In addition to one-off usage, various memberships are available, including short-term membership for summer holidays. Thumbs up all round.

A lovely little cove, quite sheltered and not to big, but not too small. Has lovely yellow sand and…read morea little waterfall on the surrounding cliffs. Not that much parking and unattended by any lifeguards - at least in February!

One of Cork's busiest beaches. Handily, Garryvoe Hotel is right next to the beach, so there's a…read moreplace for some food and decent parking options available for daytrippers. The beach is a nice spot for a wander, and the brave can try the "bracing" water for a dip. Braver still, it's a hotspot for kite-surfers too.

A sanctuary in Ireland, we came to this beach that was simply heaven on earth. Perfect for long…read morestrolls on the beach with your dogs. Big sand dunes line the beach with sand speckled with shells and round stones. Only 60 minutes away from Dublin city center and plenty of parking.

Roughly an hour away from our door in Dublin is Brittas Bay Beach, which is pretty fantastic in my…read moreopinion. 4KM of beach. Sandy beach. With sand dunes. This is stuff great childhood memories are made of. Fantastic. Now I've not had the chance to get into the water here, but it looks pretty good to me.... as long as I have my wet suit ;) There are great facilities here too, a car park, lifeguards during the summer months and decent enough toilets WITH toilet paper. I would imagine the toilets are abused on busy days... sorry that's the cynic in me, so BYOP. The notice board here is full of useful information also, including info to a website called www.jellyfish.ie. Who knew that existed, I didn't :) There is also a but... the south car park costs 4 EUR to get into. OK, so the money goes towards the car park, the lifeguard and the toilet maintenance. But I do think this is a bit steep if you are just dropping in for a look. But if you are going for the whole day, its fine. FYI the car park gates are unmanned and take coins, so make sure you have the right coinage with you before to depart for Brittas Bay. Also, the south car park closes at 8pm according to signs.

Woodstown beach is a surprisingly beautiful beach. Surprising in that it's situated not along the…read morecoast, but along the river Suir - the waterway that flows through Waterford to the sea at Dunmore East. It has the whitest softest sand in the county, and is the best place to go to pick shells - it is literally littered with sparkling pink and white shells. For this reason it is loved by children who come home with bulging pockets. It stretches for about 2 miles - with a spine of low grassy dunes and a shore which banks steeply when the tide is in. Only downside is that it can get busy at weekends in summertime, when finding vacant spaces in the nearby carlot can be challenging.

Tramore is a really nice beach, only about 20 mins by car from Waterford city. It's not too big but…read moreexactly small either, and there is a nice promenade and seems like a great place for a walk or to bring your dog if you have one. There is a car park conveniently located as well as toilets (which aren't the cleanest by the way, but that is to be expected of beach toilets), and when I went there with my classmates there were a good few people; surfers, school sports group and a few people with their dogs or kids. It took us about 10 mins or so to walk from one end to the other, and the view is beautiful so it was a great place for taking pictures! I recommend it highly for anyone visiting Waterford, especially if it is a nice day. Overall, calm and serene, great view, easy access and close to the city.

Tramore beach is a wonderful sandy beach sweeping for miles from the foot of Tramore town to the…read moredistant sand-dunes. In fact, Tramore town derives its name from the Irish words "Tra Mhor", Tra meaning beach, and Mor meaning Big. Big Beach. It's popular with surfers, strollers and swimmers alike, and is big enough to encompass them all. The cliff end of the beach has a swimming area called "Ladies Slip", dating from when ladies and gents swam in different areas. Not surprising given the bathing costumes of the day - being seen in a saggy crotch revealing wet woollen bathing costume, complete with frilly (non-waterproof) hat, would have killed off any passion in even the most ardent suitor. Today, happily, bikinis abound and ladies are no longer conscribed to the cliff end. A promenade marches along the first mile or so of the beach, marked mid-way by a life-guards hut. Locally given the poetic moniker "the Prom". At high tide the waves pound this wall, and delighted kids and dogs scream as they're drowned in the surf storming the wall. You'll also see surfers appear from nowhere at the merest hint of a swell. Tramore is a famous surfing beach, having hosted numerous national and international surfing competitions. Well worth a visit.

This is a secret beach known only to locals. It's part of what's knows as the "Copper Coast" -…read morehaving coarse red sand. The beach consistency itself is unusual - it's a sandy bed, with occasional stripes of shale/slate washed up along the tide-line. There may, or may not, be a small sign-post directing you to it. In any event, turn off the main road at the strange house of glass. You'll find yourself in a small car park, and will see a narrow precarious path through cliffs down to the beach. It's a smallish beach backed by high red cliffs, and on a sunny day is marvellous - the red sand soaks up the sun and roasts the soles of your feet. It's known for jellyfish though - nice pink ones - we always associate jellyfish with heat, maybe the red sand warms up the water and attracts them in? A great place to visit - never too crowded in summer and isolated in winter, lovely deep water when the tide is in. Not long enough for a bracing walk though, it's more a swimmer's cove than a walker's beach.