Tory Sound

Introduction

Times of high water

Tory Island: High water is 40 minutes after high water at Galway

Inishbofin: High water is 40 minutes after high water at Galway

Sheep Haven: High water is 45 minutes after high water at Galway

Tidal streams

Eddy south of Bloody Foreland: An eddy forms along the coast to the south of the point during the south-west going stream.

Bloody Foreland: The east north-east going stream begins at 3 hours and 50 minutes before high water at Galway. The west south-west going stream begins at 2 hours and 35 minutes before high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs.

Eddy east of Bloody Foreland: And eddy forms to the east of the point during the north-east going stream.

North-west end of Tory Island: A tide rip forms here

Tory Sound, South side of Tory Island: The east going stream begins at 4 hours and 50 minutes before high water at Galway. The west going stream begins at 1 hours and 35 minutes after high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. A race forms at the south east tip of Tory island.

Tory Sound: The east going stream begins at 3 hours and 50 minutes before high water at Galway. The west going stream begins at 2 hours and 35 minutes after high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs.

North west of Inishbeg: The east north-east going stream begins at 4 hours and 50 minutes before high water at Galway. The west south-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 35 minutes after high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs.

Between Inishbofin and the mainland: The water is shallow here, with a bar drying across the entire channel to around 0.5m. The tide runs swiftly across this bar, often causing a tide race to form.

Ballyness Harbour entrance: The tide flows north and south. The flow reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs. The Harbour dries to 3m+. There is an exposed bar at the entrance, which dries around 0.5m.

Horn Head: The east going stream begins at 3 hours and 50 minutes before high water at Galway. The west going stream begins at 2 hours and 35 minutes after high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. Overfalls form when the wind opposes the tide.

Sheep Haven: Streams are weak in the outer part of Sheep Haven, but increase towards the narrow channel at the entrance to Ards Bay.

Entrance to Ards BAy: The north-east going stream begins at 1 hours and 5 minutes after high water at Galway. The south-west going stream begins at 5 hours before high water at Galway. The streams run strongly through the narrow channel between Yellow Rock and the drying banks to the south-east.

Notes

Access/Egress

Trá na gCloch: (NQ 034 016) g Just west from a bridge over the river there is a small parking space, where a car or two might be left. Access to sea over rocky beach.

Cé Phort Uí Chuireáin: (NQ 044 012) g Slipway into sheltered bay. May be space to park a car at top of slipway. Parking is limited nearby, but may be possible at some of the places in the village where the road is wider.

Magheroarty Ferry Pier: (NQ 068 010) g Slipway leads onto the beach. Huge amounts of parking, this being the departure point for the Tory Island ferry.

Ballyness Pier: (NQ 102 010) g Pier with access to beaches, usable at all states of the tide. Parking for a few cars, and space for a few more along the approach. The sea may break on the Ballyness Bar, which is charted as drying 0.5m.

Drumnatinny beach: (NQ 127 019) g Large parking area from which a path leads 50m down to the beach where the Ray River cuts through it. May be a 500m carry to the sea at low water.

Portnablagh Pier: (NQ 229 035) g Pier, slipway and access to beach. Large car park.

Downings Harbour: (NQ 283 041) g Slipway with car parking. Space for another car or two on the road just to the north and large car park by Mcnutt (turn sharply uphill at McBride Fishing).

Dooey: (NQ 281 080) g Small beach. Space for a few cars where the road widens and on grass.

Suggested trips

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