Swimming bans in place at nine Dublin bathing spots after heavy rainfall
Swimmers have been warned to stay out of the water at nine popular Dublin bathing spots due to heavy and persistent rainfall.
The restrictions, imposed over the weekend by Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council, are due to remain in place until Thursday pending further water quality testing.
Prior warning notices were issued for Dún Laoghaire Baths, Killiney Beach and Whiterock Beach from June 5 to June 11.
The council has also extended swimming prohibitions for Blackrock Baths Shore, Corbawn Strand, Coliemore Harbour, Seapoint, Sandycove and the Forty Foot until Thursday “pending additional sampling”.
The local authority said the situation would continue to be monitored, with water quality samples scheduled to be taken at high tide at 7am on Tuesday. Test results are expected on Thursday.
It also said the warning notices were issued due to the weather forecast of “heavy and persistent rain over the weekend and into early next week, and the increased risk of storm water overflows.”
Several of the affected bathing locations have faced temporary closures in recent years due to water quality concerns linked to periods of heavy rainfall.
A recent rating by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) gave Dún Laoghaire Baths a “poor” classification for the 2026 bathing season, a rating the local authority said was based on test results recorded in 2025.
Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown County Council disputed the EPA’s assessment. It said bathing water quality at Dún Laoghaire Baths was “excellent” and had been considered safe for swimming until the latest prohibition was introduced.