Did you know that taking laps in an outdoor swimming pool in Ireland is good for your physical and mental health? It boosts your immune system and makes you feel rejuvenated and relaxed.
If you’re looking for the perfect outdoor pool in Ireland, you’ve come to the right place! So let’s dive right in!
The Cost of Going to an Outdoor Swimming Pool
The following rates come from the official websites and pages of the outdoor pools. Please note that the rates can change any time without prior notice:
Best Outdoor Swimming Pools in Ireland
We’re evaluating the top outdoor swimming pools in Ireland based on the following factors:
1. Castlerea Outdoor Swimming Pool
| Cleanliness and maintenance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Safety practices | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Guest reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
When we asked some regular patrons about Castlerea Outdoor Swimming Pool, their answers surprised us. Yes, they loved the outdoor pool because it’s clean and well-maintained, but what made them keep coming back was nostalgia.
Yup–most of these people had their first swimming lessons in Castlerea when they were kids. And since they were well taken care of, they always brought their kids there to have their lessons or to just enjoy a family day.
We love that it also has a green area where visitors can sunbathe after a swim or have a picnic with their groups. Resting on a wide patch of grass while taking a break from swimming is always a good idea!
Another thing we appreciate about the outdoor pool too is that it’s well-supervised. There are plenty of staff around to ask assistance from, and there are lifeguards to make sure of everyone’s safety in the pool.
Speaking of the pool, we love that it’s kept warm—just the right temperature for everyone. We also appreciate that it’s clean so you don’t need to worry about swimming in contaminated water.
We think Castlerea can use more amenities though like perhaps a bigger changing room and more lockers. It’s popular in the neighbourhood so people flock towards it during its opening season.
The only thing that’s a little disappointing to us is that Castlerea isn’t open all year round. It’s only open during summer so if you want to enjoy the pool, we recommend visiting the Facebook page for updates.
Pros
- Observes safety measures
- Has a grass area for sunbathing or picnic
- Clean and well-maintained pool
- Perfect for large groups
- Great instructors
- Lots of lifeguards
- With changing rooms and lockers
Cons
- Not open all year long
- Needs more amenities
Customer Reviews
Kid-friendly
Best pool ever, been in plenty of pools around the country and abroad and this one beats them all hands down. Shame the diving boards and slides are no longer there. It’s got everything from a grass area to sunbathe on, to a baby’s paddling pool. Spent my summers there as a kid and I hope my kids will too. — David Lohan, Facebook Reviews
Perfect for a large group of family or friends
What a lovely day at Castlerea Outdoor Swimming Pool & Scouts Den …lots of fun & a perfect picnic too and the lovely amenity that is Castlerea Outdoor Swimming Pool…good clean fun…and so affordable as a group / family day out…have to say the staff there are amazing..and keep everyone safe & well looked after…have been using this pool since the early 70’s when the lovely John Cullen taught me to swim…always had a fun, relaxing / refreshing / energetic experience there…keep up the great work Castlerea pool…— Helen Dunne, Facebook Reviews
2. Ballinakill Outdoor Swimming Pool
| Cleanliness and maintenance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Safety practices | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Guest reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
We kid you not—Ballinakill Outdoor Swimming Pool is probably one of the most relaxing outdoor pools we’ve ever seen. It’s not just because of the well-maintained pool, but also because of the surrounding area!
Ballinakill Outdoor Swimming Pool is surrounded by a picturesque view of green grass. It also has a wide space so there’s plenty of space for people to move around, which, according to some patrons, is one reason why they keep coming back!
Within this space, there’s a playground for kids. So if you have kids and bring them with you, they can also enjoy this area if they’re taking a break from swimming.
Speaking of swimming, one thing we appreciate about this outdoor pool is that it has strict safety measures. The lifeguards on duty never leave their posts assuring safety in the water.
In addition to this, the place is also PWD-friendly. Every amenity is accessible by wheelchair so it’ll be easy to roam around.
Another advantage we see is the easy online booking. You need to book in advance because it’s popular in the area and always fully booked.
Parking is easy as well when you reach the site, which is convenient to those who have cars. We also love that you’ll be welcomed by lovely staff who can easily lead you to the amenities.
Speaking of amenities, we hope Ballinakill improves its amenities though. Some guests find it inconvenient to have the showers outside and also change in a small changing room—but at least they’re always clean!
Pros
- Strict safety measures
- Clean amenities
- Helpful staff
- Heated pool
- Lovely surroundings
- Easy online booking
- Plenty of parking spaces
- With playground for kids
- Reasonable admissions fee
Cons
- Small pool
- Outdated amenities
Customer Reviews
Has strict safety measures
Gorgeous place. So lucky to have it in Laois. Lifeguards are all excellent. I especially like that they are always strong on safety and don’t allow any dangerous behaviour so kids and adults are safe, while also being kind and helpful. The pool is heated which is great. Clean changing rooms, benches and covered seats too. There is also a lovely playground beside the pool which is an added bonus. A gem..— L. Bergin, Google Reviews
Child-friendly and PWD-friendly
Online booking, lots of free parking, plenty of seats and benches, the place is spotless everywhere, an abundance of floats and pool noodles for both the main pool and the child section, outdoor showers, wheelchair accessible throughout, separate male and female changing rooms, 2 lifeguards on duty. I even spotted a pool attendant taking a water sample between sessions. Swimming outdoors,even in the rain, is a pleasure here. It is well run, safe and has an adjacent playground. Very reasonably priced. It’s an absolute gem nestled in the middle of nowhere. I’m happy to recommend this pool.— Eileen Webster, Google Reviews
3. Banagher Outdoor Swimming Pool
| Cleanliness and maintenance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Safety practices | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Guest reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
Banagher Outdoor Swimming Pool is situated near a town so you can have easy access to food and other things you need. We love that you can also enjoy activities other than swimming, so you can also enjoy the day with friends or family.
There are plenty of Irish pubs and restaurants around if you need a good drink. It’s also nice to walk around because of the fresh air and the scenery.
What makes Banagher Outdoor Swimming Pool special though is one, it’s free and available all year long! So as long as you’re in the area at whatever season, you can swim in the pool.
And second, the floating concrete swimming pool is located in Shannon river next to the Banagher bridge. You can have a full view of the bridge and the river while taking laps on the pool.
The best thing about this though is that the pool is safe even for kids. There are also plenty of seating spaces around so even if you won’t swim, you can relax by the river.
We also love that hunger isn’t even a problem! There’s a coffee trailer which sells chocolate, crisps, and ice cream just in case anyone finds their stomachs growling.
Just a little warning though—it’s not wheelchair-accessible and there are also no parking spaces for the disabled. We hope the management can do something about this to make the place more inclusive.
Pros
- Lovely view of the Shannon river
- Safe pool
- Has plenty of other activities to do around
- Near pubs and restos
- Dog-friendly
- Plenty of seating space
Cons
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Needs parking or the disabled
Customer Reviews
Lovely view of the Shannon River
Beautiful large pool on the Shannon, situated next to Martello towers and walkway on one side, with the marina and walk on the other side area. A lovely Shannonside amenity. — Joe Harte, Google Reviews
Safe place for a swim even though it’s near the river
Great place for kids, swans, dogs and boats. Swimming area is an outdoor pool in the Shannon but very safe. Also has a nice coffee trailer which sells chocolate, crisps and ice cream for the kids. Lots of seating too.—Verona Larkin, Google Reviews
4. Belmullet Tidal Pool
| Cleanliness and maintenance | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Safety practices | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Guest reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
If you’re the type to enjoy the wonders of nature like sunset and sunrise, then we recommend visiting Belmullet Tidal Pool, most especially during summers. It has such a stunning view of the water with the sunset or sunrise as its daily backdrops.
The best thing about this unusual outdoor pool—it’s free for everyone all year long! You can go any season and enjoy dipping in the pool with a great view of the sea.
We love that there’s also a lifeguard hut nearby so you’re assured of safety—they can easily see if there’s any dangerous activity in the pool. Although the pool itself is considered kid-friendly, hence it’s generally safe.
And oh, before we forget—the pool is a salt-water pool since it’s connected to the sea. You can also experience the wave without getting carried along with the currents.
In case you get hungry, there’s a coffee facility nearby. It serves good pastries and drinks so there’ll be something for the kids as well.
Just a little advice from us though—please be careful when you walk around the perimiter. While generally it’s safe in the pool area, it’s quite windy so there’s still a need for caution.
Also, the pool isn’t heated so it’ll be quite a challenge to swim during the early winter months. But then again, some people around the area love swimming during the winter months because they say it boosts their immune systems and energises them!
Pros
- Free
- Stunning views of the sunset and sunrise
- Well-maintained
- Has lifeguards to make sure people are safe
- Kid-friendly
- Coffee facility nearby
- Available all-year long
Cons
- Quite windy; needs caution walking around the perimeter
- Not heated
Customer Reviews
A well-maintained, local favourite
Fantastic amenity for the area, well-looked after by the locals and always soo clean.— Helen Neary, Google Reviews
Best viewing area for sunrise or sunset
Stunning location for an early morning or sunset swim. Easy access, parking on site and views to die for. Waters chilly to start but if you’re man enough it’s a great way to start the day… and it’s frrreeeeee— Orla Talbot, Google Reviews
5. Bunclody Swimming Pool
| Cleanliness and maintenance | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Safety practices | ★★★★★ (5/5) |
| Location | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
| Guest reviews | ★★★★☆ (4/5) |
The last outdoor pool in our list is the Bunclody Swimming Pool. It’s quite popular within the area because of how well-maintained the pool facility is and also because of the playground that kids can enjoy even when the pool is closed.
That’s actually one of the only disappointing things about the outdoor pool. According to the people in the area, the pool is only open during summers so it also tends to be overcrowded during the opening season.
However, they’re grateful that there’s a playground and a picnic area around which they can enjoy during the off-season. Some of them bring their kids to play in the swings and slides while some of them hang out with friends in the grass area.
During summer though, you can expect the outdoor area in full swing! All amenities are ready for everyone to use and there are plenty of staff around to attend to your needs.
Bunclody Swimming Pool also implements strict safety procedures. There are lifeguards on duty all summer and they’re always on the lookout for any danger in the water.
Lastly, while some don’t enjoy warm water during summers, some of you might be happy to know that the outdoor pool is heated. While cold water does good things to the immune system, hot water relaxes the muscles.
Pros
- Top-class swimming lessons
- Amazing staff
- Well-maintained outdoor pool and amenities
- Heated outdoor pool
- Practices safety procedures
- With attentive lifeguards always on duty
- Well-kept grass area for picnics
- Has a functioning playground
Cons
- Only open during summers
- Overcrowded during the season opening
Customer Reviews
Top-class swimming lessons in a heated outdoor pool
A heated outdoor pool, what’s not to love. Great staff and they keep the place so clean. Lessons etc are top class. Pity it’s only open during the summer.— Rob Wolfe, Google Reviews
Other amenities are available even if the pool is not open
At the playground with my grandchild. There are climbing frames. swings and slides in a closed off area . There is seating for picnics on a well kept grass area , plus a bicycle ramp area. All these areas are well maintained. Pool is an outdoor facility and is not open yet for summer.— Patrick Nolan, Google Reviews
FAQs About Outdoor Pools in Ireland
We hope our comprehensive list ends your quest for that perfect outdoor pool where you can relax and stay healthy at the same time. If you’re more inclined towards the indoors, you can visit the Best Indoor Pools in Dublin instead.