Nudist colonies or access to nude beaches are not generally associated with good old Roman Catholic Ireland. You will find them in Spain, France, Italy, Croatia and many other enlightened countries in Europe but in Ireland, surely not? Anyway, the weather is terrible, you say. Who would want to take a skinny dip in Ireland? Well, a lot of people, actually. And the weather is completely irrelevant to those who like to swim or walk unencumbered by clothing. You don’t have to be in the blazing temperatures of exotic places to have the comfort of being without clothes. The south-west areas of Ireland, in particular, benefit from the mild climate provided by the Gulf Stream and are ideal places for nudists.
Please also note that the following small selection of locations are those that are labeled “unofficial”. Does this mean that those who swim naked in these places are breaking the law? It is a very gray area. In the technical sense, perhaps there is a case for saying that the laws of decency are being violated. On the other hand, these areas are usually signposted and there is an unofficial “official” acceptance that allows designating and dedicating the existence of these private beach areas to nudist use. In most cases, local authorities post signs for such areas anyway.
These are just a small selection of the most popular places in Ireland.
Silver Strand Beach, Barna, County Galway
To get here, take the Galway-Spiddal road (R336). About four miles from Galway, just past Barna Woods and a service station, there is a left turn signposted Silver Strand. About three hundred yards west of the main beach is a small beach that is regularly used by naturists. To get to the naturist zone, walk for 15 to 20 minutes on the stones or along the bumpy path behind the nearby wall. Peace and quiet and above all privacy are assured in a spectacularly beautiful setting that is close to the bustling and charming city of Galway.
Roundstone, County Galway
This beach is located in the beautiful Connemara area of County Galway, where nature is at its most beautiful with stunning scenery comprising of rivers, beaches, lakes, and mountains. To get there, you need to take the Galway – Clifden road from Galway city, also called the N59. Take the coast road (R341) towards Roundstone.
There is parking here and a primitive but adequate textile camp. Walk along the beach and take the short path up a small hill at the end of the bay. You will come to a door. Go through the gate and walk along the promontory for about 400 meters. There you will reach the beach in a charming sandy cove. Note that the cove is not visible until you are almost over it, making it a great setting for naturists in the first place.
West Cork, County Cork
If ever an area lends itself to being a naturist’s paradise in Ireland, then it’s stunning West Cork in the South West of Ireland. There are a dozen quiet, secluded coves on the east and west sides of Clonakilty Bay, for example, that are well suited to naturism. Dunowen, also called Duneen, ends in a rocky cliff and is therefore very secluded and private. Further afield are Dunny Cove and Sands Cove. Further west again, towards Glandore, is the famous rocky Prison Cove. On the east side there is a suitable cove near the town of Ring. Turn right over the bridge in the village and follow the path along the coast with Inchydoney Island across the channel on the right. After a while, the road turns inland and uphill. Halfway up this hill is a narrow path on your right that almost leads to a sheltered rocky cove that is a private and accepted facility for naturists.
Further along this hilly road is a sign for Simons Cove, which runs along the headland to the South Ring, where a small lane leads to the sea. The cove is protected by a reef, but can be full of stringy algae. The shores of Roaring Water Bay and Lough Hyne, which is beyond Skibereen, along with the Beara Peninsula, have many deserted beaches that are accepted naturist areas.
Corballis, Donabate, County Dublin
Corballis is a scattered beach near the pretty village of Donabate in North County Dublin off junction 5 of the MI motorway heading north. The road from here leads to the town of Donabate with signs for the beach. Drive to the beach and park as far down as possible. Watch out for the soft sand. Take a further walk on the beach for 15 to 20 minutes. This area is known as Corballis and has long been used by naturists. Alternatively: Two miles down the road to Donabate, turn right at the sign for Island Golf Club and Corballis Golf Club. Continue for approximately 1.5 miles until you see a small green gate just before the entrance to Island Golf Club. Go through the gate and follow the path over the dunes until you reach the beach. Turn right and walk for 10-15 minutes. Peace and tranquility are assured and there is a long and respected naturist tradition in this area.
Brittas Bay in County Wicklow
Brittas Bay is probably one of the best naturist beaches on the east coast of Ireland. It is also an extremely popular camping and caravanning resort, frequented mainly by Dubliners escaping from the capital on weekends and holiday periods. The main beach is a textile-only area. The naturist beach is located almost two miles south of the main beach and is the most popular naturist beach in Ireland. It is long and sandy, backed by large dunes but with a rocky fringe between the dunes and the water (sandals recommended!).
Leave the Dublin-Wexford M11 South Motorway Main Junction 7, nine miles south of Rathnew. Follow the signs to Fort Jack White’s Cross and Pub. Follow this path until you can’t go any further. Turn right and follow the shoreline for about 1¾ miles until you come to a collection of spruce trees and gate posts marked Buckrooney at a road junction. At the crossroads there is a small green gate. Go through the gate and follow the path to the naturist part of the beach. Once you are on the beach, turn left and walk until you see fences in the dunes, past the 6th in a line of lifebuoys. Between the fence and the creek, beyond the beach, is the naturist area. You can swim, sunbathe and walk comfortably on the beach or in the dunes without problems or possible interruptions. However, as this is a very popular family resort, don’t venture naked outside of the dedicated naturist area.
So who said Ireland was a prissy country? Freedom of expression is evolving all the time on the Emerald Isle and the beautiful de Valera country maidens who dance at the crossroads are long gone in the company of fairies and that’s surely not a bad thing.
For more information on other nudist locations and practices in Ireland, see The Irish Naturist Association.