Earth:Belmullet Tidal Pool

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Short description: Tidal swimming pool in Belmullet, Ireland
Belmullet Tidal Pool
Belmullet Tidal Pool in 2023
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Location25 Shore Road, Belmullet, County Mayo, Ireland
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 54°13′N 9°59′W / 54.22°N 9.99°W / 54.22; -9.99
Typetidal, seawater, lido
Field size
  • Length: 20 feet (6.1 m)
  • Width: 10 feet (3.0 m)
Opened1984

The Belmullet Tidal Pool is a man-made tidal swimming pool in Blacksod Bay, with access from Shore Road in Belmullet, County Mayo, Ireland.

It was listed as one of the 10 best seawater swimming pools in the UK and Europe by The Guardian,[1] one of the 'world's most dramatic saltwater sea pools' by CNN,[2] one of the six 'best places to swim in Ireland' by VIP,[3] and one of the '10 best sea pools in the British Isles' by Coast.[4] It features in the book "Sea Pools: 66 Saltwater Sanctuaries from Around the World" by Chris Romer-Lee.[5]

History

The idea for a Belmullet tidal pool was spearheaded by local woman Anne Maguire after returning from travels in Sweden. The site of the pool had already been a popular swimming spot in the area.[5] Traditionally, only men swam at the spot, and when women began swimming there in the 1960s, it reportedly attracted criticism from local clergy. Despite this, Maguire and four other women who made up the Belmullet Swimming Club raised funds for the construction of the pool, which was designed by local engineer Paddy McManamon.[6]

It was built in 1984, celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2024.[7]

In 2024, the pool received funding of almost €300,000 under the Outdoor Recreation Infrastructure Scheme to improve the "visitor and user experience to Mayo's only coastal outdoor tidal pool."[8]

Use

The pool is open year-round and is free to use. It is a popular local amenity, used by swimming groups and to give swimming lessons.[9][10]

The pool has been used as a Performance Arts space.[11][12]

It has been used as an example for the potential of sea pools on the western coast by Councillor Niall Murphy in Galway.[13]

References

  1. ↑ Romer-Lee, Chris (26 August 2023). "10 of the best seawater swimming pools in the UK and Europe". The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/aug/26/10-of-the-best-seawater-swimming-pools-in-the-uk-and-europe. 
  2. ↑ Faye, Bradley (24 July 2023). "The world's most dramatic saltwater 'sea pools'". CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/style/sea-pools-chris-romer-lee. 
  3. ↑ "Six of the best places to swim in Ireland". VIP (magazine). 28 April 2026. https://vipmagazine.ie/six-of-the-best-places-to-swim-in-ireland/. 
  4. ↑ "10 best sea pools in the British Isles". Coast (magazine). 20 August 2021. https://www.coastmagazine.co.uk/things-to-do/10-best-sea-pools-uk/. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 Romer-Lee, Chris (2023). Sea Pools: 66 Salt Water Sanctuaries from Around the World. Rizzoli. p. 14. ISBN 1849947678. https://books.google.co.th/books/about/Sea_Pools.html?id=KfG1EAAAQBAJ&redir_esc=y. 
  6. ↑ Mac Evilly, O'Reilly, Brendan, Michael (2016). At Swim. Collins Press. ISBN 9781848895850. https://www.google.co.th/books/edition/At_Swim/QwiWDwAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=0. Retrieved 26 April 2026. 
  7. ↑ Reilly, Tom (31 July 2024). "Local Notes: Belmullet Tidal Pool celebrates its 40th anniversary". Western People. https://www.westernpeople.ie/your-community/local-notes-belmullet-tidal-pool-celebrates-its-40th-anniversary-_arid-26500.html. 
  8. ↑ Keady, Ava (4 June 2024). "Nearly €900,000 in funding for outdoor recreational projects in Mayo". The Mayo News. https://www.mayonews.ie/news/local-news/1518843/nearly-900-000-in-funding-for-outdoor-recreational-projects-in-mayo.html. 
  9. ↑ McGovern, Oisín (15 August 2025). "Discovery of small fish closes popular outdoor swimming pool in Mayo". Irish Independent. https://www.independent.ie/regionals/mayo/news/discovery-of-small-fish-closes-popular-outdoor-swimming-pool-in-mayo/a2137552924.html. 
  10. ↑ "Staycations 2025: Belmullet, just 4,845km fromNew York". 26 March 2025. https://www.irishexaminer.com/special-reports/arid-41600722.html. 
  11. ↑ Birdthistle, Elizabeth (27 March 2024). "'I still feel like an interloper when it comes to sea swimming in Belmullet'". The Irish Times. https://www.irishtimes.com/property/residential/2024/03/27/i-still-feel-like-an-interloper-when-it-comes-to-sea-swimming-in-belmullet/. 
  12. ↑ "Belmullet's tidal pool becomes a stage". The Mayo News. 21 July 2022. https://www.mayonews.ie/news/living/1133076/belmullets-tidal-pool-becomes-a-stage.html. 
  13. ↑ Bradley, Dara (7 July 2023). "Councillors urged to visit Belmullet Tidal Pool ahead of plan for Salthill". Connacht Tribune. https://www.connachttribune.ie/news/councillors-urged-to-visit-belmullet-tidal-pool-ahead-of-plan-for-salthill-5584899. 




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