My brother, 14 yo niece and I took a 2hour surf lesson with Bens in Lahinch on a whim in July 2014…read more It was amazing, mostly due to great attitude of the staff, a guy called Mike who sorted us out and the owner Ben who gave us the lesson. He is the most highly qualified instructor (level 3?) and vowed, he told us, to only let his instructors have a maximum 6 students at a time, with smaller groups the norm. He was able to give us instant feedback on every single wave we tried (and sometimes succeeded) to catch. We were all novices, though comfortable in the water, but made good progress, I'm convinced because of his instruction. DONT try surfing without first getting a lesson, as there is a lot that is counter-intuitive to us beginners. Ben himself is an absolute gent, good crack, and a very clear instructor. They also give instruction all the way up to advanced level, are open year-round, and he is expanding this year having bought a new premises to move into right beside the beach. I cant think of anything negative to say. The beach itself is very safe, with shallow waters that go out for hundreds of metres, professional lifeguards on duty, and a friendly vibe from all the other surfers and schools around. Non surfers, wives, kids,can enjoy the beach too while you are 50 metres away paddling on your board. Bens also does bike rentals, rock climbing and kayaking and this part of county Clare is perfect for those types of activity. Can't recommend this guy and his business highly enough.

From the owner: Surf School and Adventure centre in lahinch, Co. Clare offering surf lessons for all levels…read moreincluding intermediate and advanced, surf rentals, kayaking, rock climbing, Stand Up Paddleboarding, indoor climbing and archery.

I like Lahinch Seaworld. They have an amazing pool that includes a great pool for just kids. The…read moreaquarium end of things might not be as great as it could, but it's a good start. They also have an activity centre where they have various classes and what not but I personally have never taken part in those. I just enjoy taking my son to swim here after a day at the beach. One thing to note, check the website and ring ahead before visiting because they only have public pool hours on certain days at certain times and the aquarium is only open on certain days at certain times.

It is extremely crowded but I'm glad I went once at least. We went all the way down the right side…read morepath to the end because I wanted to try to get some photos of the Aran Islands and that side was quite crowded and a bit narrow especially around the stairs. It was also windy enough that it was pushing us along at a light jog/trot at a couple points. No joke. I had suggested that my mom remove her hearing aid for our walk and that was probably a good idea. Remove your hats, sunglasses etc and tuck them away safely. Tie back long hair. Great views on a clear day though. Go early and hope for good skies.

We were passing thru and this was our only time to visit. we were luck enough to have some time…read morewith no rain which was rain treat for this trip. So glad to got to see it. We looked around and even saw puffins on the cliffs across the way. Wish I had a better camera but will never forget first sighings of puffins and they were even feeding their babies. sooo cool,

Great beach to visit. It is large with a rocky back for kids to climb and the sands are clean and…read morewell kept. There is a great little surfside community full of cafes and restaurants which is great for families. The promenade walk was also really pleasant. This is a great stop for those staying around Co. Clare.

Five stars is possibly generous, but even if the incredible experience is made by the company as…read moremuch as the location, it feels impossible not to give Lahinch Beach a full five stars. The beach itself is vast, it has great waves for surfing, and it is entirely gorgeous. The cliffs either side ensconce the bay, making it feel like a private slice of ocean, even though it's not small. The practicalities: There are fantastic coast guards to make sure you don't get washed out by the tide (like we nearly did). The beach is barely a few minutes from all manner of little shops, bars, and eateries (we got fish and chips and sat on the beach). You can hire surfing equipment and even get lessons (next time). It's clean, it's beautiful, and it's absolutely worth the drive from Dublin. Just watch out for the weever fish -- they'll give you quite a sting, if you stand one them!

Aloha Surf School runs surfing lessons in the heart of the Burren at Fanore Beach, Co. Clare,…read moreIreland. Because of it's relative remoteness from heavily populated centres, it does not enjoy the fame attached to less attractive but better known surf destinations in Ireland such as Lahinch. All the better for those who come here! The beautiful Fanore Beach with all it's space and uncrowded surf provides the ideal location for those wanting to learn to surf. Surfing with Aloha Surf School in Fanore allows surfers to escape the masses and really enjoy the surfing experience. At our surf school, we offer professional surfing instruction for people of all ages and abilities. No experience necessary and all equipment is provided.

The pleasant sounds and sights of surf meeting turf await those venturing to this cozy pocket of…read morepeace outside Roundstone. It had been 18 years since our last ramble and happily we can report nothing has changed. "Progress" has not imposed. All natural, all the time. The setting this time inspired me to sand-pen a message to my grand-nephew back in the States. All those driving around the west of Ireland, specifically the Roundstone-Clifden loop should take some time to soak in the serenity. Note: Unspoiled means just that...no concession or trashy souvenir stands. A genuine bring your own and leave just your footprints when finished.

Beautiful beach with soft sand and clear water. Perfect spot to relax and enjoy the view. Great…read moreplace for a peaceful day by the ocean!

This is the beach the locals apparently come to and was recommended to us by the waitress we ate…read morebreakfast at. Just a 15 min drive from Tralee along winding narrow roads and you finally emerge into a perfect sea-jeweled crescent. The day when we visited, it was windy but sunny and the shoreline was surrounded by mountains. The beach had lots of stones like river rock with unusal colours - not as much as at Brighton and much cooler stones. There were also tons of kids out on the sea, curtesy of two surfing schools!! I had a lovely walk along the sea and also hats-off as encountered the cleanest bathrooms I have ever been to. It's located a few ways up from the beach and no soap but gosh, I was impressed that all 3 stalls in the women's loo were so well maintained! Note: #249 of Yelp 100 challenge for 2016

I've been to Inch Beach twice and each time it was beautiful. The first time it was rainy and…read moreovercast and today it was a beautiful sunny day. The beach is gorgeous and very clean. There are a ton of cute little shells that you can find intact and wash off if you want a souvenir. The shops were closed when I visited today but apparently they may be up for sale and reopened sometime this year. There is a good amount of parking here and a very clean container bathroom with running water and no smell. There's a spigot you can use to wash your feet off with when you're done. If you have the chance I definitely recommend stopping here.

I will always remember the panoramic scene in David Lean's "Ryan's Daughter" when a giddy Sarah…read moreMiles holds her parasol upright and greets a smitten Robert Mitchum on an expansive beach as the wind carries their respective hats away. About a quarter-century ago, I sought the beach out on my first trip to the Dingle Peninsula and found it looking as magical as it did in the movie. Earlier this month, I returned with Jamie W. knowing full well that it was on our way to our overnight stay in Dingle. The magic was there still (photo: http://bit.ly/2ehwPGZ). It was close to sunset and the perfect time to enjoy the three-mile stretch of flat compacted sand that looked so visually stunning you would have thought someone intentionally designed the beach that way. It was fairly empty except for random tourists and hardcore surfers. All we did was walk out into the sand and enjoy the calm of the sea cradled by Brandon Bay. There were two stray orange cats next to the outhouse rather indifferent to our presence but somehow in tune with the peaceful environs (photo: http://bit.ly/2fc3yLz). I hope it's not another 25 years before I return.