Doughmore

Doonbeg · Ireland West · Ireland

Today’s forecast: the current surf forecast for Doughmore (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/doonbeg-doughmore.

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A long, open beach below the dunes and the golf links north of Doonbeg. It faces straight into the Atlantic, so it often has waves on days when the rest of the coast is flat. There are peaks both ways along the sand, and the south end usually has a good right.

Level
Advanced
Break
Beach break, sand
Waves
Lefts and rights
Crowd
Quiet
Season
autumn, winter, spring
Boards
A shortboard or fish.

When it works

✓ A west to north-west swell of 1–1.8 m with a south-east wind, on the push.

When it doesn't

✕ Onshore winds ruin it, and it closes out once the waves are bigger than head high.

Watch out for

  • rips
  • rocks

Best months

January, February, March, September, October, November, December

Local tips

The paddle out is hard work and the rips can be dangerous, so it suits confident surfers. A deeper left reef (the 'turf bank') can break on bigger swells; stay to the right to avoid the big close-outs.

Getting there

Getting there is the hard part. The way to the beach crosses private farmland and the golf course, and you need the landowners' permission. Ask locally first, keep to any agreed route and respect fences. If you can't get permission, surf somewhere else. There is free roadside parking nearby.

Travel notes

How often it works
Very consistent: it is one of the most exposed beaches in Clare and works all year.
Crowd and vibe
Rarely crowded.
Facilities
None at the beach. Shops and pubs are in Doonbeg.
Water quality
Not an EPA-monitored bathing water, so there is no official rating.

Ideal conditions

Swell
W–NW best, WSW–NNW works
Size
1–1.8 m offshore swell; starts at 0.6 m, holds to 2.2 m
Period
9 s minimum, best from 12 s
Wind
Offshore E–SSE; handles onshore up to 10 km/h
Tide
low, mid best, on the rising tide
Faces
WNW (285°)

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