Hoping to get naked, strip everything, and go for a dip in Ireland? Daring beach goers and dedicated nudists can face some hurdles when they go all-natural because nudism and public nudity in Ireland are difficult subjects caught between outdated laws and often conservative social norms.
To be frank, public nudity is illegal in Ireland. However, Ireland’s first official nude beach, Hawk Cliff in Dalkey in County Dublin, opened in 2018 to mixed reactions. Signs were put up to inform that they did not know that people can be there without clothes.
Several other secluded beaches have long been known as unofficial nude retreats. In certain areas, swimming naked is even part of the local tradition. However, if you get naked in the wrong area, you may have a lot of explaining to do. Even topless tanning, the norm on most continental European beaches, is frowned upon.
Irish law says ‘Stay covered’
At first glance, there seems to be no clear rule against skinny swimwear or bans on stripping on the beach, but two Irish laws can apply if you get rid of your clothes and someone else is offended:
- The Irish City Improvement Act of 1854 prohibits men from exposing themselves and was put in place to curb public urination.
- The Criminal Law Act of 2017 replaces an earlier public order of 1935 and penalizes nudity only if the nudist attempts to cause “fear, anguish or alarm.”
Criminal law recognizes that exposure is only prohibited if it is intended to offend. That means that consensual nudity can be legal, or at least that the law is open to interpretation.
It all comes down to this: nudity in public is prohibited. If someone feels fear, distress or alarm and reports it to the police, then they could face legal action. Technically, local governments already have the power to establish clothing-free or clothing-optional areas on beaches. But none of them do it, preferring to turn a blind eye to the problem. This could be due to fear of a backlash from public opinion and the risk of being accused of supporting ‘indecent behavior’.
Irish nude beaches are some of the best in the world
Now here’s a fun fact: despite the laws, Irish beaches are some of the most popular nude beaches in the world. This is quite impressive considering that there are no official nude beaches in Ireland.
Even without official permission, there are definitely nudists in Ireland. They prefer to go without clothes whenever possible and have claimed some beach areas as their own, illegally, it goes without saying.
Nude beaches that are regularly at the top of the list are Trawalua in County Sligo (according to an old Ryanair flight magazine, including Nude Beach No. 1 in the world), Brittas Bay, and Inch.
Tolerance zones: where to go naked in Ireland
Here’s a rundown of the beaches that have been ‘claimed’ by Irish naturists. For detailed directions on how to get there, visit the Irish Naturists Association website. Be aware that the ‘bare’ parts of the beaches can be a considerable distance from the nearest car park and other facilities.
Leinster :
- Brittas Bay
- Corballis
- Curracloe
- Dalkey – Vico Road
- Magheramore
Munster :
- Clonakilty Bay
- Inch
- Inchidonney
- Kilkee Beach
- Long strand
- Ventry Beach
Connacht :
- Achill Island – Trawmore and Keem Strand
- Bartraw
- Old Head – Clew Bay
- Roundstone – Dog’s Bay
- Silver strand
- Trawalua Strand
- Yellow strand
According to the UK Naturist website, there are no official or unofficial nude beaches in Northern Ireland, so those hoping to take a dip without a bathing suit are better attached to the beaches of the Republic of Ireland and using your own criteria.
If you really can’t resist a dip, you can also try Dublin’s ‘Forty Foot’, a public bathing spot in the shadow of the James Joyce Tower in Sandycove. This is where conservative gentlemen come to brave the nude waves, sometimes adding nude aerobics in the name of entertainment, and all in full view of a busy ride. In other words: the behavior that would cause the gardai (Irish police) to come running elsewhere is totally normal at Forty Foot thanks to the local tradition of swimming without a suit that has taken place here for decades.
By the way, the nude swimmers at Forty Foot were traditionally always men, but more recently there are also women who go swimming there.
Some final words of caution
If you decide to try one of the “nude” beaches mentioned above, do not strip without first taking a look around you. You should be pretty sure if there are other nudists (or no one) around. But if there are other groups enjoying the nearby beach with all their clothes on, it might be unwise to go naked in front of them. Let common sense prevail, remembering that any public complaint about going to the nude beach can lead to a run-in with the law.
Second, act natural, keep a low profile, and don’t engage in anything that could be construed as lewd behavior.
Oh, and maybe check out the Irish weather before planning a nude vacation. Average temperatures can put a brake on trips to the beach. Regardless of how you like to swim, you must also control dangerous animals lurking beneath the waves and any anticipated storms.
