Good swimming spots in Limerick/Midwest?

Amazotheamazing

Anyone care to help compile a list of good places to swim within easy reach of the city, ie places that wouldn't need a day trip like Lahinch etc?

So far I've only got a few, Clare Glens, Killaloe, Worrells End in CastleConnell and the High Tailrace in Ardnacrusha. Anyone else got other good spots?

ricey

corbally baths

Raiser

A guy I work with says his Da, who does voluntary work with Clare search and rescue, has on occasion had to peel limp bodies off the large metal grates stopping objects from being sucked into the turbines in Ardnacrusha.

I know of someone who used to swim in the Corbally baths years ago until his skin started to blister and come off in scaley pink patches - reckons its very, very polluted....:eek:

shinners007

the curragh chase is nice for a family picnic and stroll 777 acres out there approx, play area for kids and lake, loads of different trekking routes, picturesque. head out thru mungret, clarina, kildimo bout 35minutes from the city. think its 5euro to get in during summer free all other seasons.

littor strand is 10km before bally b water is nice to swim in and its fab there sometimes ppl refer to it as bale strand theres just two diffreent entrances to them bout an hour and a half from limk on same route as curragh chase go as fart as asdee then turn right at the fork on road instead of heading on for bally b..

kilteragh peir out near glin is another and theirs a life guard their, heard the water is salty tho.

spanish point out near pallas kenry and ring moylane pier are also lovely scienic day trips from the city (unsure if one can swim there tho).

foynes is also nice theirs a picnic area their loads of boats, flying boat museum, pier,etc..

lough ger is another popular one

tarbert you can get the ferry to kilkee there daily and back. its only 40 mins from limk out past glin and yoghill just in cae you dont to want drive all the way to kilkee or if your from out the west side.
lovely scienic drive out that road also.

cant think of any more really.

mysterious

Yoghal quay in Newtown, Nenagh. 40 mins from Limerick city centre. Take the main road to Nenagh, then take a left onto the N52 bypass first roundabout then take a left, then straight to Newtown and next right down the hill and you at Lough derg, Great place for swimming and diving. though it's small it's quite popular for swimming. is quite clean since it's sheltered from the currants and is upstream away from the Pollution of the mainstream shannon and Limerick. also if this is'nt exciting enough go futher along the R494 To Portroe and beofre you come to the village take a right to Garrykennedy/ There is pubs/restaurants, Ruins of Castle, pier and Yacht. Forest walk etc all along Loug derg... or Castle lough? don't know if you can swim there, but people still do. The lakw is cleaner than it was a cuple of years ago. Sometimes a bacterial algae blooms every so often, due to the Bord na Mona factories and Sugar beet pollution in the midlands, now this is not fully understood, but no harm in mentioning.

Dromineer is the tipp answer to Mountshannon and is pretty much the same route only go to the next roundabout on the N52 (pass the Portroe roundabout) take the Dromineer road and pass Ballycommon and you there! lot's of lakeside activities to do


Even if you make it here there is plenty of more lakeside spots to look out for though they would be a little further to reach..

Poxyshamrock

Theres a great place just about a mile outside killaloe for skinny dipping!

bazz26

Lock Gur (probably spelt wrong).

sioda

Ballina slip just before goosers pub was there last nite beautiful. Plus Tinnerana bay just beyond Killaloe great spot

ita

Killane Lake

Just before Tulla in Co. Clare is a lake (Killane lake) to the left, if you follow the road from sixmilebridge (lovely swan/duck sanctuary in sixmilebridge btw with picnic area, bring bread along to feed the wildlife, kids love it), to Quin you will come accross it on the left. I used to swim in it all the time as a kid. you see little sprats in the water. It has a wooded area around it. Watch the horseflies though if the weather is really hot !

Crea

The canal in Ardnacrusha. Take a right turn towards Clonlara and there's a turn left down a dirt road about 2 miles along. It'll bring you to a gate which you'll have to climb over. Go to the top of the hill and take a left until you reach the steps into the water, this can be hard to see but look at the edge of the water. The water is cool and clean but deep so you need to be a good swimmer. You're a good distance from the power station and if you don't swim too far out and swim parrallel to the shore then you should be fine. In the summer the turbines generally come on at about 4. You can feel the pull a bit but it's not very strong.
Can you really swim in Loch Gur - where abouts? I live near there and i've never seen anyone swim there but I generally only go to the parkland area.