Spent a few St. Patricks Days here. One of my favorite places in the world. Amazing views, family…read morefun and the majestic fort overlooking. Get there...

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

FOUNTAINSTOWN Fountainstown, let's face it, is not the…read moreprettiest of beaches. But it does have a bus service from the city and also has a large car park. It has been popular for decades and that is still the case. There is sand enough there but on my recent visit, it was covered in seaweed. In fairness, a clean-up is scheduled. There are also a fair share of small stones there and one would have thought it possible they could be periodically cleared with a tractor and rake. Maybe it is done early in the season. In any case there is more than enough to keep the kids going here. One of the main attractions, as it has been over the years, is the huge number of little pools left in the rocks as the tide retreats, more than enough to occupy the inquisitive children, not to mention the parents. Oh by the way. There was a small amount of litter there but nothing major. A good clean-up of the seaweed and this great little destination, which also has a little shop and cafe, would be in great shape for what is left of the "Indian" summer.

Only GPS or a local can guide you to this spot. Beautiful cascading views from the Ardkilly Creek…read moreto the Atlantic Ocean. 5 generations of land owners surround the natural beauty, and swimmers come from afar and local to swim around the island. Kayak and standup boards can be used along these calm waters. Parking is limited, and the roads are tight but well worth the trip.