The beach in the coastal town of Ballybunion, Ireland offers a great family day out in the summer season. It is a picture postcard town located just off the traditional tourist route in County Kerry that is usually overlooked by those rushing to see the Cliffs of Moher or drive the Ring of Kerry and visit Blarney Castle. But the local Irish have long been visiting the beach to spend relaxing sunny summer days on one of its beaches.
There are two main beaches in Ballybunion. The water at these beaches is safe for swimming and is staffed by lifeguards during the summer. The local surf scene has developed in recent years in parallel with the rise in popularity of the sport along the west coast of Ireland. The temperature of the water may discourage some people from venturing into the water, but the calm medium waves are ideal for those who want to improve their surfing.
For those who stay on the mainland, the beaches are divided by a small cliff. The south beach is known locally as “the beach of the men” and the north beach is “the beach of the ladies”. These naming conventions date back to a time when men bathed on a separate beach from women and children. This charter is long gone, but the names of the beaches have stuck.
The women’s beach has some local amenities including a cafeteria, hot seaweed baths (for when the weather is inclement) and an ice cream parlor (for when the sun shines).
For those adventurous types who like caving (venturing into underground caves), the cliffs north of the beach have shallow caves that can be explored. Also, the beach headland has some tidal caves that can be explored at low tide (check with the locals when the tide is out on the day of your trip).
Those looking for a scenic walk after lunch at one of Ballybunion’s local hotels should follow a route up to the cliffs and the ruins of Ballybunion Castle. From this starting point, with its panoramic views of the sea, a pleasant path runs along the coast to “Playa de las Monjas”. The beach got its name because it is next to an old convent.
The walk itself should only take 20 minutes one way and is a favorite with the locals when the main beaches are full. This beach is much quieter but just as picturesque as the others.
On the way back to Ballybunion village, be sure to take advantage of the photo opportunities at the various sea stacks nestled along the cliffs. The view of the strata from Ladies Beach is particularly good. As with the oddly named beaches, the local rock formations have also been given fancy names such as ‘The Devils Castle’ (a sea stack) and ‘The Virgins Rock’ (an arch formed by rocks).