SMALL PRINT:With a few hours to kill last week, my son and I decided to have a swim at the famed Forty Foot in Dublin for the first time. It was late afternoon when we arrived, and I counted perhaps a dozen other swimmers.
I had flirted with the idea of wearing a wetsuit but was told that unless I was training for a triathlon then wearing one was a no no, especially for an area where swimming shorts are still seen by some as a relative novelty.
Junior was first in, standing on the concrete steps and allowing himself get acclimatised to the water for a time before taking the plunge. There was a great sense of community, and the whole scene was more akin to a Turkish bath, albeit held outdoors and about 100 degrees cooler.
The only way to tackle the Forty Foot is feet first. The water was not as cold as I expected. One swimmer told me it was the warmest he had experienced all summer. “You should be here in February,” he said
1. Kilkee, Co ClareLast summer Clare County Council stirred local controversy in Newfoundout in Kilkee when they removed diving boards used for generations by locals and visitors alike. The boards were removed for health and safety reasons. It spurred local groups into action and highlighted just how popular the bathing area had become. Since then, diving boards and ladders have been put back in place and many continue to enjoy the popular bathing spot.
2. Banna Beach, Co Kerry Situated in Ardfert county Kerry on the edge of Tralee Bay, Banna Beach seems to stretch for miles and miles. There's an extensive range of dunes and Roger Casement was captured here in 1916, having landed from a German U-boat.
3. Nohoval Cove, Co Cork Nohoval is a secluded inlet with naturally formed rocks perfect for jumping off or sunbathing on. There are 14th century ruins worth exploring and you get there by driving through Carrigaline and Minane Bridge. A sea stack is popular with daredevil divers.
4. Rush, Co DublinThere are two beaches here to choose from, looking out over Lambay Island. Kite surfing has become popular in recent times, and there's also a wildlife sanctuary and it's all situated less than 30 kilometres from Dublin and only 20 minutes from the airport. The beaches are called the North Beach and the South Beach.
