Ballybunion

Ireland South · Ireland

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Ballybunion (wave height, swell, wind, tide and a 0–10 rating for every hour of the next 16 days) are only shown on SurfCams. They change every hour, so this text doesn’t contain them. To check today’s surf, open https://surf-cams.com/spot/ballybunion.

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A seaside town in north Kerry with two west-facing Blue Flag beaches split by the castle headland. On the sand there are playful peaks at most stages of the tide. At the north end, a right runs down along the cliff, and at the south end a left breaks over rocks.

Level
Beginners
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Busy
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A funboard or longboard on the beach; a shortboard for the right.

When it works

✓ A west swell of 1–2 m with an east wind; the right by the cliff is best from mid to high tide.

When it doesn't

✕ Westerly winds blow it out. The left at the south end gets slow and soft as the tide comes in.

Watch out for

  • rocks
  • crowds

Best months

March, April, May, September, October, November

Local tips

For the right, take off close to the cliff and watch out for the caves and rocks. In summer, keep clear of swimmers at the weekends.

Getting there

Park in town near the castle and take any of the steps or roads down to the beach. There is free parking.

Travel notes

How often it works
Consistent all year, because the beaches face straight into the westerly swells.
Crowd and vibe
Quiet in the week and busy at weekends. Surfnerd says the locals on the right are a close-knit group, so be respectful in the water.
Facilities
Toilets, parking and a summer lifeguard on both beaches (EPA). Shops, pubs and a golf course in town.
Water quality
Both Ballybunion North and South were rated Excellent by the EPA in 2025 and hold a Blue Flag.

Ideal conditions

Swell
WSW–WNW best, SW–NW works
Size
1–2 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 2.5 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore ENE–ESE; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
mid, high best, on the rising tide
Faces
W (270°)

Live cam

No cam at this spot yet: the forecast and the guide are on the map.

In the guides

Nearby spots

All spots in Ireland South · All spots

Sources