Ireland’s Salt-Laced Secrets: 7 Lesser-Known Beaches

Ireland’s coastline is no secret, but its quieter corners still whisper their songs to those who listen closely. Beyond the famed strands of Dog’s Bay and Inch Beach lie otherworldly crescents of sand and stone, lapped by tide and time. 

These are the beaches that don’t clamor for attention, but reward the curious traveler with wild beauty, solitude, and a kind of wonder that settles in your soul and stays there forever. If you’re looking for Ireland’s coastal hush, its salt-laced secrets, this is where to begin.

Doughmore Beach, Co. Clare

Doughmore stretches wide and windblown, with waves that crash like distant drums. It’s beloved by surfers and walkers alike, though you won’t find the usual beachside bustle here. Instead, you get sky, sea, and silence. It’s like the horizon leans in just for you.

It’s not a swimming beach, due to strong currents, but it’s an ideal place if you want to roam. The dunes are sprawling and majestic, and the sense of space, of vastness, is humbling. There’s something elemental about Doughmore. You’ll feel it the moment you arrive. 

Ards Forest Park Beach, Co. Donegal

Ards Forest Park has a secret: a sprawling network of trails, woods, and coves. And, tucked inside, you’ll find a sandy shoreline that feels enchanted. Surrounded by whispering trees and kissed by slow-moving waves of Sheephaven Bay, it’s a spot where forest and sea engage in a secret love affair.

The sand here is soft and golden; the water is calm and reflective. It’s perfect for a quiet picnic, a contemplative stroll, or a moment of stillness beneath the shifting Donegal skies. The park’s trails weave through oak and hazel before opening to the shoreline, making each arrival feel like a quiet revelation.

Kinard Strand, Co. Kerry

East of Dingle, tucked beneath the sleeping slopes of Mount Brandon, you’ll find Kinard Strand, a brooding, cinematic stretch of coastland marked by a sea stack, An Searrach, that rises out of the water like a myth made stone. At first glance, the beach appears to be very stony. But, venture further out and soft patches of sand will emerge like hidden treasures.

This isn’t the place for sunbathing. It’s the place for dramatic skies, waves that roar and hush, and long walks that feel like you’re walking through a story. You’ll find few signs and even fewer people – just the sea in conversation with the cliffs, and maybe a curious sheep or two watching from above.

If you drive the Wild Atlantic Way, you’ll find yourself in Kerry at some point. Here are ten spectacular beaches along the drive that might also deserve a spot on your list. 

Ballyquin Beach, Co. Waterford

A few miles west of the sweet village of Ardmore, Ballyquin is a whisper of a beach, framed by grassy headlands and beloved by swimmers and locals in the know. It’s a gentle crescent, kissed by the Celtic Sea and perfect for long, meditative walks with only the sound of your footsteps and the tide.

There’s a timelessness here. Fishing boats bob on the horizon, and the air smells of salt and seaweed. At low tide, the beach stretches far and wide, revealing rippled sands that catch the light like glass. It’s a peaceful place, just far enough away from the beaten path to feel like a discovery.