Lady's Bay, Buncrana

Lady's Bay beach consists of a sandy beach in Lough Swilly confined by Buncrana pier to the South and a small rocky outcrop 550m to the North. It is one of a series of beaches along the West of Inishowen. Lady's Bay beach supports a number of different plant and wildlife species. Important wildlife species include otters and Mallard, while important plant species include Lady's fern and wood sage. Lady's Bay beach is part of The Lough Swilly SAC which is of conservation importance and contains good examples of at least four habitats listed on Annex I of the EU Habitats Directive. Activities at Lady's Bay beach include swimming, boating, power boating, jet skiing and other land-based activities on the beach. The designated bathing area is approx. 0.02633 km² and the extent along the water is approximately 550m. There is a medium gradient off Lady's Bay Beach continuing out at a medium slope before beginning to get gradually deeper until it reaches the channel. Lady's Bay, Buncrana is classified as having Poor Water Quality in 2024 based on the assessment of bacteriological results for the period 2021 to 2024 and consequently, an Advice Not To Swim restriction will apply at the bathing water for the 2025 bathing season. Lady's Bay, Buncrana had a Poor Water Quality rating for the four consecutive years 2021 to 2024. Annual water quality ratings are generally calculated using monitoring results over a four-year period and are assessed against stringent bacterial limits to protect bather health. Donegal County Council reported that the main sources of pollution affecting Lady’s Bay, Buncrana are Buncrana Wastewater Treatment plant, combined stormwater overflows and surface run off. As is common with most pollution sources, these are all made worse by heavy rainfall. Uisce Éireann began upgrade works at Westbrook pumping station and the sewer network in 2023. Westbrook pumping station is constructed, operational and fully commissioned in February 2025. Construction and commissioning of a new larger capacity storm tank at Buncrana Wastewater Treatment plant is underway with a scheduled completion date of Q3 2025. These works, when complete, will reduce the risk of overflows and flooding during heavy rainfall, which in turn will help towards improving the bathing water quality at Lady’s Bay, Buncrana. Lifeguard: No Dogs: