Big Dublin Bay Waves Wash Away Steps at the Forty Foot Bathing Place

11th March 2023

Afloat.ie Team

Concrete steps at the access point known locally as 'Kavanaghs' or 'Bell Rock' on the promontory's western side were broken by big waves on Dublin Bay on Thursday night

Thursday's (March 9th) north-easterly gale on Dublin Bay has caused extensive damage to steps at the popular Forty Foot bathing spot at Sandycove, County Dublin.

Concrete steps at the access point known locally as 'Kavanaghs' or 'Bell Rock' on the promontory's western side were swept away by big waves on Thursday night.

The damage occurs as a contractor is on-site building new concrete steps to the bottom of the archway access point elsewhere at the Forty Foot.

Large waves roll in to Sandycove on Thursday night (March 9th 2023) Photo: Afloat

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Published in Forty Foot Swimming

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Forty Foot

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Forty Foot Swimming Spot on Dublin Bay

The 'Forty Foot' is a rocky outcrop located at the southern tip of Dublin Bay at Sandycove, County Dublin from which people have been swimming in the Irish Sea all year round for 300 years or more. It is popular because it is one of few spots between Dublin city and Greystones in County Wicklow that allows for swimming at all stages of the tide, subject to the sea state.

Forty Foot History

Traditionally, the bathing spot was exclusively a men's bathing spot and the gentlemen's swimming club was established to help conserve the area.

Owing to its relative isolation and gender-specific nature it became a popular spot for nudists, but in the 1970s, during the women's liberation movement, a group of female equal-rights activists plunged into the waters and now it is also open to everyone and it is in the control of Dun Laoghaire Rathdown County Council.

Many people believe that swimming in extremely cold water is healthy and good for the immune system.

Is it safe to swim at the Forty Foot?

The Forty-Foot is a great place to swim because there is always enough water to get a dip but like all sea swimming, there are always hazards you need to be aware of. For example, a lot of people like to dive into to the pool at the Forty-foot but there are submerged rocks that can be hazardous especially at low water. The Council have erected signs to warn people of the underwater dangers. Other hazards include slippy granite cut stone steps that can often be covered with seaweed and of course marine wildlife including jellyfish that make their presence felt in the summer months as do an inquisitive nearby Sandycove seal colony.