Monitored bathing water

Fountainstown

Co. Cork, Ireland

Water qualityGood EPA

Blue Flag 2026No

Green CoastNo

DogsSeasonal

Always verify the car-park location on arrival. Road and access conditions may change.

⚠ Access not verified: Parking arrangements not fully verified — sources conflict on the official car park; check locally.

About Fountainstown

Fountainstown is a beach near Crosshaven in Cork Harbour, a sheltered sandy strand within easy reach of the city. Lifeguarded in summer with safe, calm water, it is a popular family beach close to Cork, with rock pools and gentle conditions. A handy, sheltered swimming spot on the harbour coast near the Crosshaven villages.

Fountainstown Back Beach

Just 700m east of the main strand, Fountainstown Back Beach is a quieter companion to the busy front beach, sharing the same parking. The water here is shallower and the setting more sheltered, making it a calm option for young families and paddlers when the main beach is crowded. It has no separate facilities of its own — use the main Fountainstown car park and walk along — but for a quieter spot on a busy day it is well worth the short stroll east.

Get directions to the car park

This opens the verified car-park pin — never the beach itself or a mid-route point.

📍 Get directions to the car park

Pin confirmed at 51.7675, -8.3033. Always verify the car park on arrival — access can change.

Map

Verified car-park pin.

Activity suitability

Swimming — Safe
Surfing — No surf
Walking — Short walk (under 1km)
Lifeguard (summer) — Yes

Facilities

Toilets — Seasonal
Car park — Free
Lifeguard — Yes
Not yet confirmed: Disabled access, Shower, Café nearby

Facilities confirmed from Cork County Council and Fáilte Ireland Source.

Water quality

Water quality information is sourced from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Ireland and is updated annually. During the bathing season real-time water quality updates are available at beaches.ie. Always check beaches.ie and local signage at the beach before swimming, particularly after heavy rainfall. IrishBeaches.ie accepts no liability for water quality conditions at the time of your visit.

EPA classification: Good (latest annual bathing-water assessment). Always check beaches.ie for the current rating.

Where to stay nearby

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