Live wind
Water & wetsuit
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About this spot
Dollymount Strand on Bull Island is Dublin's home spot: a 5 km sandy beach on a UNESCO biosphere island in Dublin Bay, about 15 minutes from the city centre. The bay is sheltered from Atlantic swell, so the water is flat to choppy, and at low tide huge shallow sandbanks appear — waist-deep water far from shore, ideal for learning and freestyle. The local kite community is active and welcoming.
The beach faces north-east into the bay, so NE, N and E winds are the working directions — the classic Dublin sea breeze and easterly depressions. S and SE also work along the beach. W and SW blow off the city — offshore, gusty and dangerous. The tidal range is large (around 4 m): at high tide there is little beach left near the dunes, and the incoming tide moves fast over the banks. Bull Island is a nature reserve — respect the protected dune areas and bird zones, and keep clear of the busy shipping channel into Dublin Port.
Access is via the wooden bridge or the causeway; there is parking along the causeway and near the beach. Kite schools operate here, and the kite club maintains local rules and a rescue-minded community. Excellent for beginners on the right tide; the best city-convenient spot in Ireland.
3-day forecast
Speed / gusts in knots. Colour = rideability for this spot. Bottom row = recommended kite size for your weight — not recommended outside this spot's 12–28 kn range.
Conditions
- Water
- flat, choppy
- Depth
- Very shallow banks at low tide; large tidal range
- Seabed
- sand
- Skill
- beginner, intermediate, expert
- Beginners
- Beginner friendly
- Wind range
- 12 kn – 28 kn
Access & parking
Bull Island via the wooden bridge or causeway, Clontarf, Dublin.
Parking: Parking along the causeway and near the beach.
Amenities
- Kite schools
- Active local kite club
- 15 min from Dublin centre
- Nature reserve
Needs local verification: Details compiled from general sources and not yet confirmed by local riders — check launch, parking and current rules on site. No spot-specific webcam verified; links go to Windy's nearby cams and wind map.
Local hazards
- Large tidal range (~4 m) — tide comes in fast over the banks
- W/SW winds are offshore and gusty over the city
- Shipping channel to Dublin Port — keep clear
- Protected dune and bird areas — respect signage