Open Water Swimming Programme - Kilkee

If you have been thinking about getting into the sea properly - not just a quick dip, but actually swimming with purpose - this programme is worth signing up for. Clare Sports Partnership, working with Swim Ireland qualified coaches, runs a structured open water swimming course from Kilkee Beach across the summer. It is aimed at people who can already swim in a pool but want to build their confidence and technique in the ocean. Sessions are supervised, coached, and run on a regular weekly schedule, which means you build up gradually rather than just throwing yourself in.

What to expect

Each session runs for around 45 minutes. The coaching is focused on distance, technique, and getting comfortable with the particular challenges of sea swimming - reading the water, managing a buoy, dealing with cold and swell. Wetsuits are mandatory, so if you do not own one, make sure to arrange that before you go. You will also need a swimming buoy (the kind that trails behind you for visibility and safety) - Clare Sports Partnership has previously offered rentals at the first session, so check with them when booking. Kilkee’s sheltered horseshoe bay is well chosen for this sort of programme; the crescent shape cuts out a lot of open-sea chop. The Pollock Holes, a set of natural tidal rock pools on the West End at Duggerna Reef, are also part of the local swimming scene - large enough to swim lengths in, and rich with marine life if you are that way inclined. Session dates and pricing vary year to year, so check claresports.ie for the 2026 schedule before booking.

Getting there

Kilkee sits at the tip of the Loop Head Peninsula in west Clare, about 65km from Ennis. The main route is the N68 west from Ennis through Kilrush, then continue on to Kilkee - allow around an hour from Ennis. There is no direct public transport to Kilkee; you will need a car. Parking is available in the town centre and at the beach access points on the West End near the Pollock Holes. In summer the town fills up at weekends, so arriving a little early for sessions is sensible.

While you’re in Kilkee

The town has a good few cafes and pubs for a warm drink after your swim, and the coastal walk out along the cliffs towards Loop Head is one of the finer short walks on the west coast. There is more to see in Kilkee and across Co. Clare.

Good to know

• Sessions begin from 1 July 2026; the programme runs through summer - check claresports.ie for the full weekly schedule
• Price: various (previous programmes ran at around €50 for a multi-week block; confirm current pricing at booking)
• Book via claresports.ie
• Wetsuits are mandatory; swimming buoys required (rental may be available at first session)
• Suitable for competent pool swimmers looking to transition to open water - not a beginner learn-to-swim course