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Spot · tier 2 · Ireland
Dollymount Beach
Dollymount Strand runs the length of North Bull Island in Dublin Bay - a 5km-long, flat, southeast-facing sandy beach that is also a nature reserve and UNESCO biosphere reserve. It has a declared kitesurfing launch area near the Bull Wall, reached via the wooden Bull Wall Bridge, and its shallow water and long straight beach suit both learners and experienced riders on the right (southerly) wind.
beginnerflat waterfreeride
Wind
| season notes | Best on southerly winds, which blow cross/onshore onto this southeast-facing beach. |
|---|---|
| wind name | southerly |
| direction to shore | cross-onshore on S winds |
| quality | steady |
Water
| type | flat |
|---|---|
| tides | Very shallow, firm sand foreshore exposed at low tide (also used for learner driving); water depth and reach change a lot with the tide. |
| standing depth | Yes - shallow water is a defining feature of the spot. |
Levels
| beginner | yes |
|---|---|
| intermediate | yes |
| advanced | yes |
| notes | Shallow water and a long, straight, obstacle-free beach make it accessible to beginners while still working for more experienced riders. |
Launch & crowd
| description | Designated launch area near the Bull Wall, reached via the wooden Bull Wall Bridge from Clontarf. |
|---|---|
| busy months |
|
| vibe | Dublin's home kite spot - a mix of city locals, clubs and Puremagic school clients. |
Monthly wind statistics
Station: Dublin (WeatherSpark, ~5 km) — Dublin city-center station is close to Dollymount Beach/Bull Island (~5 km), a good match within Dublin Bay. No known_best_months were supplied for this spot in the batch; based on this data, the windy season (Oct 9 - Mar 28) driven by Atlantic winter storms is the strongest period, consistent with other Irish spots in this batch. Source states wind is 'most often from the west' for most of the year with a southerly shift from Apr 24 to Jun 1 (applied here to May only, as the closest single-month approximation). No probability(>=4Bft) figure available; windfinder.com 429-blocked all session.
| Month | Wind ≥4 Bft | Avg kn | Dir | Air °C | Water °C |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | —% | 14.8 | W | 6.1 | 8.9 |
| Feb | —% | 13.8 | W | 6.1 | 7.8 |
| Mar | —% | 12.8 | W | 7.2 | 7.8 |
| Apr | —% | 11 | W | 8.3 | 8.3 |
| May | —% | 10.3 | S | 11.1 | 10 |
| Jun | —% | 9.5 | W | 13.9 | 12.2 |
| Jul | —% | 9.4 | W | 15.6 | 13.9 |
| Aug | —% | 9.9 | W | 15.6 | 14.4 |
| Sep | —% | 11.2 | W | 13.9 | 14.4 |
| Oct | —% | 12.6 | W | 11.1 | 13.3 |
| Nov | —% | 13.6 | W | 8.3 | 12.2 |
| Dec | —% | 14.3 | W | 6.7 | 10.6 |
Hazards
- Shallow water requires a long walk/wade out at low tide
- Part of a protected nature reserve/biosphere reserve - avoid bird-sensitive areas
- Can be crowded with other beach users (walkers, swimmers, learner drivers)
Rules
- Kite launching is designated to the area near the Bull Wall, accessed via the Bull Wall Bridge.
Travel basics
| airport | DUB - Dublin Airport |
|---|---|
| getting there | In Dublin city itself, reached via Clontarf and the Bull Wall Bridge or the North Bull Island causeway. |
| accommodation | Full range of Dublin city accommodation nearby. |
| cost level | high |
| no wind | Dublin city sightseeing, or Howth and Dún Laoghaire along the coast. |
Sources: en.wikipedia.org · puremagic.com