A beautiful sandy beach, Carrownisky Beach in Louisburgh is one of the Mayo’s most popular surf spots!
Home to one of Ireland’s very first surf schools, Carrownisky is 2km in length and it sits right next to Cross Beach.
Below, you’ll find info on surfing, swimming, parking and more handy info.
Some quick need-to-knows about Carrownisky Beach
Photos via Google Maps
Although a visit to Carrownisky is fairly straightforward, there are a few need-to-knows that’ll make your visit that bit more enjoyable.
1. Location
Carrownisky Beach is a long, 2km sandy beach in the south of County Mayo. It’s a 5-minute drive from Louisburgh and a 30-minute drive from Westport.
2. Parking
The beach has on-site parking right next to the sand. The car park is tarmacked, although in somewhat poor condition, and sits next to a large pebbled stretch which some visitors use for parking (see parking on Google Maps here).
3. Swimming
The beach has a summer lifeguard service. It operates during the weekends in June, every day in July and August, and on the first weekend in September. Since the beach is popular for surfing, take extra care to steer clear of surfers as you could get injured.
4. Surfing
Carrownisky Beach has great surf conditions year-round, and the county’s oldest surf school, Surf Mayo, is based there. The school is Irish Surfing Association approved and runs summer camps for kids and surf lessons. They also rent equipment, although we recommend calling ahead to make sure they have the right gear available.
About Carrownisky Beach
Photo by Artur Ilkow via Tourism Ireland’s Content Pool
Carrownisky is one of the more popular beaches in Mayo, likely due to its proximity to bustling Westport Town!
The 2km-long beach has parking and a summer lifeguard service. It’s well known for its consistent waves throughout the year and for horse racing.
Every summer, the beach hosts the Carrownisky Races, a day with exhilarating horse races, family entertainment, music, and food.
During low tide, the beach is a wide sandy stretch and at high tide, the water comes right up to the rocks.
Unlike many other beaches in Mayo, wearing footwear in the sea is recommended as Carrownisky has Weever Fish.
The Green Coast beach is home to Surf Mayo, the first surf school to be established in Mayo! They offer surf lessons, summer surf camps, and equipment rental.
Since Carrownisky is beginner-friendly, it’s a great place to learn surfing.
Things to do near Carrownisky Beach
One of the beauties of Carrownisky is that it’s a short spin away from many of the best things to do in Mayo.
Below, you’ll find a handful of things to see and do a stone’s throw from Carrownisky!
1. More beaches (several under a 20-minute drive)
Photos courtesy Michael Mc Laughlin via Falte Ireland
There are several fantastic beaches less than 20 minutes from Carrownisky. For more surfing head to Cross Beach and for swimming and bathing visit Carrowmore Beach.
Old Head Beach is great for those looking for a rural beach with a nature trail, and Silver Strand is wonderful if you’re after something off the beaten path!
2. Doolough Valley (20-minute drive)
Photos via Shutterstock
The Doolough Valley is, in my opinion, one of the most scenic parts of County Mayo.
Nestled between mountains, the valley has beautiful lakes, incredible countryside views, and a tragic history due to the Great Famine.
3. The Lost Valley (20-minute drive)
Photos via the Lost Valley
The Lost Valley has been open to the public since 2015, giving visitors a unique insight into a part of Mayo that has otherwise been cut off from the world.
The working farm is owned by the Bourke family who give walking tours of this stunning landscape alongside the history of the area.
Keith O’Hara has lived in Ireland for 35 years and has spent most of the last 10 creating what is now The Irish Road Trip guide. Over the years, the website has published thousands of meticulously researched Ireland travel guides, welcoming 30 million+ visitors along the way. In 2022, the Irish Road Trip team published the world’s largest collection of Irish Road Trip itineraries. Keith lives in Dublin with his dog Toby and finds writing in the 3rd person minus craic altogether.