Lahinch

Lahinch faces west into Liscannor Bay and takes consistent Atlantic swell, with a sandy beach break that is forgiving enough to have made it the main learner surf destination in Ireland - several schools operate on the beach and the town has built itself around them since the 1990s. The beach is Blue Flag and lifeguarded in summer. The other half of the town's economy is golf: Lahinch Golf Club, laid out in 1892 and reworked by Alister MacKenzie in 1927, is among the best-regarded links courses anywhere and hosted the Irish Open in 2019. The two populations coexist. A seawall promenade runs along the strand, rebuilt after storms repeatedly - winter Atlantic weather here does real damage. The Cliffs of Moher are ten minutes up the coast, so Lahinch works as a base. Outside the summer season much of the town closes down.

History

The name is the anglicised form of Leath Inse, "half island", for the town's place between the Inagh River and the sea, and the Annals of the Four Masters record it as Leith Innse; the Irish form Leacht Uí Chonchubhair, "O'Connor's grave", refers instead to a memorial cairn over the burial place of an O'Connor chieftain (Wikipedia, Lahinch).

What's there

• The beach break - consistent and forgiving, the main learner spot in Ireland.
• The links course - laid out 1892, reworked by MacKenzie in 1927.
• The promenade - the seawall walk, rebuilt after repeated storm damage.
• The bay - Liscannor Bay with the Cliffs of Moher beyond.

When to go

May to September for the beach and lifeguards; September to April for the best surf, with cold water and wetsuits. Winter storms close the promenade at times.

Before you go

Rip currents outside the guarded area and season. The town largely closes outside summer. Golf tee times are expensive and booked far ahead. Storm damage regularly affects the seafront.

Nearby

The Cliffs of Moher are ten minutes north; Doolin and Ennistymon are close.

Key facts