Carrowniskey

Louisburgh · Ireland West · Ireland

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Carrowniskey (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/carrowniskey.

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A large, gently sloping beach south-west of Louisburgh, open to the full Atlantic. It is one of the most consistent beaches in the west, with peaks left and right that can turn hollow. Strong rips make it more serious than it looks.

Level
Intermediate
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Some company
Season
autumn, winter, spring, summer
Boards
A shortboard or fish; a longboard on small, clean days.

When it works

✓ A west to west-north-west swell of 1–2 m with an east or north-east wind.

When it doesn't

✕ It has no shelter from onshore or cross-shore winds, so any westerly blows it out.

Watch out for

  • rips

Best months

April, May, June, September, October, November

Local tips

Watch for the strong rips, and shuffle your feet in the shallows because weever fish live in the sand. Cross Beach and Killadoon are close by if it is crowded.

Getting there

From Westport take the R335 to Louisburgh, then follow the R378 south for about 6 km to the sign for Carrowniskey Strand.

Travel notes

How often it works
Very consistent all year: it faces straight into the westerly swells.
Crowd and vibe
Usually quiet; it can get busier on good days, but the long beach spreads people out.
Facilities
Car park, toilets and a summer lifeguard (EPA).
Water quality
Rated Excellent by the EPA in 2025 and holds a Green Coast award.

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
low, mid 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 West · All spots

Sources