Ballyquin Beach

The eighth name on the list of the best beaches in Ireland is Ballyquin Beach. This incredibly quiet beach is around 5km northeast of the popular seaside town of Ardmore, an arc of magnificent white sand that gives way to tidal rock pools at its eastern edge, above which are the remnants of a previous stud.

Ballyquin Beach, unlike the much more popular beach in Ardmore, is rather unfrequented: locals come here for morning swims, and in the evenings, it is a fantastic site for surf fishing, with residents tossing a rod in the hope of catching flatfish or a bass. While swimmers prefer the beach on Ardmore's outskirts, this stretch of shore is frequently used for long beach walks. The beach's beautiful sand is progressively replaced by pebbles as it approaches its eastern end. The ruins of a past stud seem to have fallen asleep over these rocks. To reach Ballyquin Beach, take the R673 to Goat Island and look for the road sign.

Location: Ardmore, County Waterford, Ireland