Lifeguarded Areas By County
For operational reasons the Lifeguard cover may vary from the details listed here. If in doubt, please contact the relevant Local Authority directly for confirmation.
Locations: River Barrow – Clashganna Borris, Bagenalstown
Months: Mid June to End of August
Time: 14:00 – 17:30 and 18:00 – 20:00
Locations: Spanish Point; Lahinch; Fanore; Kilkee
Months: Start weekend 20th and 21st May, weekend 27th and 29th May, from Sat 3rd June – full time until 31st August, weekends in September until 10th September
Time: 11.00-19.00
Locations: Whitestrand, Miltown Malbay; Whitestand Doonbeg;, Kilrush; Mountshannon; Ballycuggeran, Killaloe
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August; Weekends in September until 10th September Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August; Weekends in September until 13th September
Time: 11.00-19.00
Locations: Bishops Quarter, Ballyvaughan; Seafield Quilty, Cappagh Pier, Ballyallia, Ennis.
Months: Everyday July and August
Time: 11.00-19.00
Clare County Council advises that the safest place to swim is at lifeguarded locations.
For swimming advice and precautions, please visit the Water Safety Ireland website: https://watersafety.ie/recreation
For information on beaches and bathing areas in Clare please visit: https://www.clarecoco.ie/services/arts-recreation/leisure-and-swimming/bathing/
Locations: Front Strand – Youghal, Claycastle – Youghal, Redbarn – Youghal, Garryvoe, Fountainstown, Garrylucas, Garrettstown, Inchydoney – East and West, Owenahincha, The Warren, Tragumna, Barleycove
Months: Weekends in June from June 3rd; Everyday – July and August; First weekend of September until September 10th
Time: 10:30 – 19:00
Further details on Cork beaches https://www.corkcoco.ie/en/visiting-cork/beaches
Daily information and updates https://www.facebook.com/CorkCoCoBeachLifeguard
Locations: Bundoran; Rossnowlagh
Months: Everyday – June, July and August; First two weekends in September
Time: 11.00-19.00
Locations: Murvagh; Fintra; Narin; Carrickfinn; Killahoey; Marblehill; Downings; Portsalon; Rathmullan; Culdaff; Shroove
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August; First two weekends in September
Time: 12.00-18.30
Locations: Dollymount Strand / Blue Wall
Months: Everyday – June, July and August; Everyday in September until the third weekend in September
Time: 11:30 – 18:30
Locations: Seapoint, Sandycove, Killiney
Months: Everyday – Everyday – June (if resources available); July and August (from 1st June); first two weekends in September
Time: Monday to Friday 12:00 noon – 18:00; Weekends and Bank Holidays 11:30 – 18:00
Locations: Howth – Claremount Sutton, Sutton – Burrow Beach, Donabate – Balcarrick, , Rush – South Beach, Skerries – South Beach, Balbriggan – Front Strand
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Locations: Portmarnock – Velvet Strand (Port 1 and 2), Portmarnock – Velvet Strand (Port 3 – off Golf Links Road),
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August; Blue Flag Beaches for the first two weekends in September
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Locations: Malahide – Short Deep
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August; CONSTANT RED FLAG
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Locations: Portrane – Brook, Rush – North Beach, Loughshinny – Harbour
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August (if resources available)
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Locations: Ladies Beach Salthill
Blackrock Salthill
Silverstrand (Barna)
Grattan Salthill
Palmers Salthill
Ballyloughane Renmore
Tracht, Cinn Mhara
Loughrea Lake
An Trá Mór, Knock, Indreabhán
Trá an Dóilín, An Cheathrú Rua
Portumna – Shannon Road
Céibh an Spidéil – An Spidéal
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August; Weekends in September until 12th September
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Locations: Cill Mhuirbhigh, Inis Mór
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August; Weekends in September until 12th September
Time: 12:00 – 16:00
Locations: Spiddal Rd An Spidéal, Roundstone Connemara
Months: Weekends in July and August
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Locations: Inis Óirr
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August; Weekends in September
Time: Saturday 12:00 – 16:00; Sunday 10:00 – 16:00
For further information about Galway lifeguards and beach quality, read more.
Subject to availability of lifeguards and resources.
Locations: Fenit, Banna, Ballyheigue, Ballybunion North, Ballybunion South, Derrynane, Ballinskelligs, White Strand-Caherciveen, Marahees, Ventry, Inch, Rossbeigh, Kells Bay
Months: Everyday – June, July and August (from June Bank Holiday) ; Weekends in September until 12th September
Time: Weekdays 12:00 noon – 19:00; Weekends and Bank Holidays 11:00 – 19:00
Locations: The Weir, Kilkenny City, The Meadows, Kilkenny City, Inistioge, Thomastown Weir Pool, Graiguenamanagh
Months: Weekends in June (from Saturday June 3rd); Everyday – July and August
Time: 13:00 – 16:00 and 16:30 – 19:00
Locations: Glin Pier, Kilteery Pier
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August
Time: 3.5 hours either side of high tide daily
Locations: Templetown, Port, Clogher Head
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August; First two weekends in September
Time: 11:00 – 18:00
Locations: Westport – Bartra, Louisburgh – Old Head, Louisburgh – Carramore, Louisburgh – Carrowniskey, Newport – Mulranny, Achill Island – Keel, Achill Island – Keem, Achill Island – Dugort, Achill Island – Silver Strand, Killala – Ross
Months: Weekends in June (from 3rd June); Everyday – July and August; First weekend in September up to and including 5th September
Time: 12:00 noon – 18:30
Locations: Belmullet Tidal Pool
Months: Everyday from July 1st to September 5th
Time: 14:00 – 18:00
Hours may be extended during periods of good weather or when classes are busy. Ask locally for more information.
Locations: Bettystown
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August
Time: 11:00 -19:00
Locations: Castlerea Open Air Pool
Months: TBC
Time: TBC
Locations: Rosses Point, Enniscrone
Months: Weekends in June; Everyday – July and August
Time: 11:30 – 19:00
Locations: Dunmoran, Streedagh
Months: Weekends in July and August
Time: 12:30 – 18:30
Locations: Ballina Outdoor Pool (Not Local Authority Lifeguarded), Borrisokane Outdoor Pool (Not Local Authority Lifeguarded)
Months: TBC
Time: TBC
Locations: Ardmore, Clonea, Tramore, Dunmore East (Counsellors and Lawlors)
Months: Weekends only commencing 3rd June. 7 days a week 1st July to 31st August. First two weekends in Sept
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Locations: Bonmahon
Months: 7 days a week from 1st July to 31st August
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Locations: Ballymoney, Ballinisker, Carne, Morriscastle, Curracloe, Rosslare Strand, Duncannon
Months: Weekends (from June 13th); Everyday – July and August
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Locations: Bray (Two Stations), Greystones South (Blue Flag Beach), Brittas Bay North (Blue Flag Beach), Brittas Bay South (Blue Flag Beach), Arklow South Beach, Wicklow Harbour
Months: Everyday – June, July and August; Arklow starting in July; First two weekends in September
Time: 11:00 – 19:00
Lifeguard Training & Awards
Are you interested in training as a Lifeguard? You have come to the right place.
Water Safety Ireland is a full member of the International Lifesaving Federation, meaning our pool and beach Lifeguard certifications not only allow you to work in Ireland. They give you the chance to save lives worldwide.
Lifeguarding has a number of great benefits. While providing paid employment during the summer months, it is a great way to develop lifelong skills and make a valuable contribution to your local community.
If you have already trained as a lifeguard, the International Lifeguard Equivalency Table helps you decide what qualifications from other countries are accepted for employment in Ireland.
Kick start the next stage of your career today.
Duties of a Lifeguard
Duties of a Pool Lifeguard
While these may vary between facilities, the following are functions, which should be included:
Correct supervision of the pool
Exercise an appropriate level of control over users.
Apply the principles of preventative life guarding.
Take appropriate action during incidents.
Perform rescues
Treat suspected cases of suspected spinal injury.
Provide First Aid, within the scope of one’s qualifications.
Provide Basic Life Support if necessary.
Provide advanced Life Support if trained to do so e.g. AED, Oxygen etc
Duties of a Beach Lifeguards
To provide supervision of activities at public bathing places in order to prevent drowning accidents.
To provide emergency rescue service in the case of accidents.
To render first aid when possible.
To provide advice to the public regarding facilities, tides, hazards, etc.
To ensure that from the start of the duty period that the appropriate flags are flown and are changed or re-located as necessary during the day.
To inspect all lifesaving and first aid equipment on arrival for duty to ensure that adequate stocks are available and in good working order.
To inspect the patrol area and where possible to remove any dangerous or offensive items. If the lifeguard cannot deal with the matter he should immediately report to his supervisor.
To record in a daily log book:
The names and attendance times of all guards on duty.
The general weather and tidal conditions.
What flags were flown and when they were changed during the day.
Any information which may assist the Authorities in improving the service.
To complete all appropriate rescue and first aid forms.