Nearby Mulranny 14 km · straight-line distance
When it fills in
No daily cycle here. The wind is frontal, arriving and leaving with the weather system rather than building through the day, so it can blow at any hour and the session gets picked off the forecast and the tide, not off a time.
The wind
Direction
Kite sizes
metres · typical quiver highlighted
Character
synoptic
fills in: No daily cycle here. The wind is frontal, arriving and leaving with the weather system rather than building through the day, so it can blow at any hour and the session gets picked off the forecast and the tide, not off a time.
Typical strength
Persistent 16-25 kt winds are reported; 16-24 kt is described as the kite sweet spot at Carrowniskey, though that assessment is coastline-orientation based rather than locally checked.
Also on record
No statistical weather data is available for Carrowniskey. The nearest station with annual statistics is Mace Head, 45.7 km away, at WSW 15 kt average with 40 kt gusts, from observations between 2010-05-01 and 2026-07-31. Use it as regional context, not as a spot average.
The quiver, in words
Locally a 9 m is the usual kite, with a 6 m and a 12 m as backups.
Forecast
Month by month
- Jan74
- Feb82
- Mar, riders' month71
- Apr, riders' month75
- May, riders' month55
- Jun77
- Jul71
- Aug84
- Sep, riders' month62
- Oct, riders' month74
- Nov73
- Dec81
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+)
Ringed months are the ones riders and schools name: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct.
- 74%Jan8°
- 82%Feb9°
- 71%Mar9°
- 75%Apr10°
- 55%May13°
- 77%Jun16°
- 71%Jul16°
- 84%Aug16°
- 62%Sep16°
- 74%Oct13°
- 73%Nov11°
- 81%Dec10°
windy days per month (3 h+ at 12 kn+) · water °C below · season highlighted
| Month | Windy days | Force 4+ | 12 kn or more | Knots | From | Peaks at | Air | Water | Readings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 74% | 85% | 84% | 22.6 kt | SW | 13:00 | 7.2°C | 8.2°C | 62 |
| Feb | 82% | 95% | 91% | 21.1 kt | SW | 13:00 | 8°C | 8.8°C | 57 |
| Mar | 71% | 92% | 84% | 19.7 kt | E | 12:00 | 7.7°C | 8.6°C | 62 |
| Apr | 75% | 95% | 85% | 19.1 kt | WNW | 14:00 | 9.4°C | 10.1°C | 60 |
| May | 55% | 87% | 79% | 15 kt | WSW | 15:00 | 12.1°C | 12.9°C | 62 |
| Jun | 77% | 98% | 95% | 17.5 kt | WNW | 15:00 | 14°C | 15.6°C | 60 |
| Jul | 71% | 90% | 87% | 18.2 kt | SW | 14:00 | 14.4°C | 16°C | 62 |
| Aug | 84% | 92% | 90% | 19.9 kt | WSW | 13:00 | 15.1°C | 16.4°C | 62 |
| Sep | 62% | 93% | 87% | 18 kt | SW | 13:00 | 14.1°C | 15.7°C | 60 |
| Oct | 74% | 90% | 82% | 18.7 kt | SW | 14:00 | 12.1°C | 13.4°C | 62 |
| Nov | 73% | 85% | 82% | 19.5 kt | E | 13:00 | 9.7°C | 11.4°C | 60 |
| Dec | 81% | 89% | 85% | 23.9 kt | SW | 15:00 | 7.6°C | 9.5°C | 62 |
modelled
A weather model's cell over this place, not a station on it. Good for comparing places, weaker for one beach.
Modelled from the operational forecast archive at 1.5–7 km (2023-2024), daylight hours only, not a ground station: it resolves thermal, lake and valley winds far better than coarse reanalysis but still tends to understate a strong local thermal. A windy day has at least three consecutive daylight hours at 12 knots or more. The typical daily max and the direction are columns of the table above, month by month. Highlighted months are the riding season from the spot record.
High-resolution weather model (modelled) · Open-Meteo historical forecast archive — best-match operational model (ICON-D2 / AROME / ICON-EU / GFS by region), not a ground station · 2023-2024
The water
Type
mixed - Atlantic beach break plus nearby lake flat water
Standing depth
Lough Roonah, the flat-water option inland of the beach, is waist deep at most, so you can stand anywhere on it. Carrowniskey itself is open tidal Atlantic sand with no published wading depth, and how much beach and how much shallow water you get changes right through the tide.
Tides
Tide sets how much launch you have: the Carrowniskey launch and landing area is tidal, while the surf break there reportedly works at all stages of tide. The tide reference used locally is Carrowmore, about 6 km away. Lough Roonah is not tidal.
Temperature
16°C summer · 9°C winter
Wetsuit
Carrownisky sea temperatures peak around 14-18 C in mid-August and bottom out around 8-10 C in mid-February. A 4/3 or 3/2 plus boots covers the warmest conditions; mid-winter wants a 5/4 or 5/3 with gloves, boots and hood. A 3 mm can also work in summer, with 5 mm plus booties and gloves in winter.
Currents
Dangerous rips at Carrownisky. The coast here is exposed, with rip tides and strong currents.
Your level
The scene
What riders come here for
Launch and rules
three ways on to the water, and what each one asks of you
With a school or a boat
4 schools name this spot
On your own
Room to launch: large on the open beach, tide dependent
Somewhere else
Mulranny, 14 km
Every spot within 40 km is on the map at the top of this page, with its distance under it.
Rescue
Launch
Carrowniskey is the main beach launch on record: a long sandy bay/strand near Louisburgh, with free car parking and broad sand but a tidal launch/landing area. Nearby Roonith Lake comes up as a flat-water option a short distance from the beach, but launch access details are thin.
Space
large on the open beach, tide dependent
Rules & access
Access rules drift faster than anything else we hold — check locally, and propose an edit if this has changed.
Rider tips
- Treat the atlas point as the Louisburgh base and pick the launch on the day: Carrowniskey for waves, the lake if the wind direction and access allow.
- Do not launch through or near swimmers; the 2022 Mayo by-laws restrict kiting close to them.
- Bring full cold-water kit even in summer; mid-August sea temperatures are still only around the mid-teens Celsius.
- Ask a local rider or a school about Roonith/Roonah Lake before you use it, because depth, ownership and access, obstacles and rescue are all unconfirmed.
- Wear booties in the shallows for the weever fish.
- Treat the atlas point as the Louisburgh base and pick the launch on the day: Carrowniskey for waves, Lough Roonah for flat water if the direction and access allow.
- Lough Roonah is waist deep at most, which is why it gets used for teaching and for freestyle practice; the bottom, ownership and access are still unconfirmed, so ask locally first.
- Give way to surfers at Carrowniskey. They were there first and the local convention is absolute.
- In an emergency dial 112; lifeguard cover is summer-only and 12:00 to 18:30.
Getting there
Airport
NOC - Ireland West Airport Knock
Route
Drive west from Ireland West Airport Knock via Castlebar/Westport, then follow the R335 coast road to Louisburgh and local signs toward Roonagh Quay/Carrownisky for the beach. Bus Eireann route 450 serves Dooagh to Louisburgh via Westport; there is no simple direct airport bus, so public transport typically involves changing in Westport.
Transfer
65 min
Cost level
medium
Staying
Small-town and rural accommodation around Louisburgh, Westport and the beaches; Discover Ireland lists accommodation search for the area and local homes/lodgings market the kitesurf beaches and lakes nearby. For a dedicated kite lodge/school setup, Pure Magic is on Achill rather than in Louisburgh.
No-wind days
Surf lessons or hire at Surf Mayo, Croagh Patrick, Old Head and Carrowmore beaches, Roonagh Pier ferries to Clare Island and Inishturk, Silver Strand and Uggool Beach, Doo Lough/Delphi valley scenery, Westport town, walking and cycling on the Wild Atlantic Way.
Photos
FAQ
When is the best time to kite Louisburgh?
March-May and September-October, with riding possible year-round in a thick wetsuit.
Is Louisburgh suitable for beginners?
Carrowniskey is an exposed Atlantic beach with dangerous rips, so beginners should use local instruction rather than riding independently.
What is the wind like at Louisburgh?
Southwest is the dominant direction, with local reports of persistent 16-25 knot winds in season.
What are the main hazards?
Dangerous rips, occasional rocks, and weever fish reported in the shallows, so booties are advised.
Are there rules at Louisburgh?
The 2022 Mayo by-laws prohibit kite surfing close to swimmers on the scheduled Cross/Carrownisky/Dooghmakeon beaches and ban inflatable toys.
Last updated: August 2026