Naturist Venues in Connaught

This beach is in Co. Galway. DIRECTIONS: Take the Galway-Spiddal road (R336). About four miles from Galway, just beyond Barna Woods and a Texaco filling station, there is a turn to the left signposted Silver Strand. About three hundred yards to the west of the main beach there is a small beach which is sometimes used by naturists. To get there walk for 15 or 20 minutes along the stones or on the rough path behind the wall nearby. Please note that this beach is covered when the tide is about 2/3 of the way in.

This beach is in Co. Galway. DIRECTIONS: Take the Galway - Clifden road (N59).Turn off onto the coast road (R341) to Roundstone. (Alternatively you can take the coast road from Galway (R336) until you come to Roundstone). The beach is near Dog's Bay, three miles past Roundstone. Dog's Bay is signposted - ignore the turn off for Gurteen Bay which is about one mile before Dog's Bay. There is parking and a primitive but adequate textile camping site here. Walk the length of the beach and take the short path up a small hill at the end of the bay. You will come to a gate. Go through the gate and walk across the headland for about 400 yards and you will come across the beach in a delightful sandy cove. Please note that the cove is not visible until you are nearly upon it.

This beach is in Westport Bay, Co. Mayo and is approximately five miles from Westport. DIRECTIONS: Take the R 335 from Westport towards Louisburg. After passing the village of Murrisk take the next turn to Bartraw Beach which is on a small peninsula. Use the eastern side of the peninsula.

This long beach is on Achill Island. It was sandy but has now become very rocky. Use the eastern end of the beach at Dookinelly. DIRECTIONS: Take the R 319 from Achill Sound towards Keel for approximately five miles. There is a turn off for Dookinelly. You can also get there from Keel by a long walk up the beach.

CAUTION: The beach is fairly safe for swimming but as the beach is quite isolated never swim alone. Beware of currents. Swim parallel to the shore.

This fine long beach is on the northern side of Sligo Bay, near Drumcliff Bay. DIRECTIONS: Take the N15 (Sligo to Donegal) from Sligo to Drumcliff. Just past Drumcliff turn left for Carney. If coming from Ballyshannon direction turn right for Carney just before Drumcliff. Follow the main road through Carney. The main road turns sharply left at the end of the village. Continue on this road and you will come to a crossroads with a pub on the left, stay on the main road and take the next road to the left (sign for Ballyconnell). Disregard all roads left and right for approximately 1 mile, then you will come to a crossroads straight on through, after 0.3 of a mile take the next road/lane to the left. This road/lane goes all the way to the beach. Please park in the parking area on the right hand side of road/lane and walk the last 500 yards to the gate where the lane ends. The man who owns the land around the beach becomes a virtual prisoner on good days as inconsiderate beach users block the lane to and from his house and farmyard.

CAUTION: Beware of currents

This beach is about 4 miles long, but because of strong currents not many locals use the beach for swimming. DIRECTIONS. Take the N15 (Sligo to Donegal) from Sligo to Cliffony for about 15 miles. In the middle of Cliffony village take the road for Mullaghmore. 400meters down on the left is a laneway on a right hand bend with a set of double wooden gates (plenty of parking on right-hand side of road, don't block laneway as it's a busy right of way). Walk to end of laneway (the land on either side of lane is private), through another set of wooden gates and across a small stream (This land is commonage). Following heavy over-night rains, it may be difficult to cross the stream. In this case, stay beside the stream, still on the commons, it's walkable. Follow this stream to the beach. Naturists traditionally use the right-hand side of this lovely soft sandy beach down as far as the rocks, almost a mile long. Tourists, many of whom are German, from a local German-owned horse riding school use the left hand side for horse riding. Past the main naturist beach is a second, smaller beach. Locals have told us that it is safe to swim here, although this has yet to be confirmed. Caution is advised until further notice.