Mulroy Bay and Lough Swilly

Introduction

Times of high water

Mulroy Bay entrance: High water is 1 hours after high water at Galway

Mulroy bay, between first and second narrows: High water is 1 hours and 40 minutes after high water at Galway

Mulroy Bay, between second and third narrows: High water is 2 hours and 15 minutes after high water at Galway

Mulroy bay, Broad Water: High water is 3 hours and 15 minutes after high water at Galway

Fanad Head: High water is 1 hours after high water at Galway

Fahan: High water is 1 hours and 10 minutes after high water at Galway

Tidal streams

Melmore 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 east going stream reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs. The west going stream reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs.

Mulroy Bay entrance: The north going stream begins at 1 hours and 5 minutes after high water at Galway. The south going stream begins at 5 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs.

Mulroy Bay Bar: By Bar Rocks, drying rocks 1.25 miles within the Bay entrance: The north north-east going stream begins at 1 hours and 5 minutes after high water at Galway. The south south-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 2.5 knots at springs.

Melroy Bay, First Narrows: At the narrows by Dualty's Isle: The north-east going stream begins at 1 hours and 20 minutes after high water at Galway. The south-west going stream begins at 5 hours and 5 minutes before high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 4 knots at springs.

Mulroy Bay by Fanny's Bay: The north going stream begins at 55 minutes after high water at Galway. The south going stream begins at 5 hours and 5 minutes before high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 3 knots at springs. The time of the south-going stream is uncertain.

Mulroy Bay, second narrows: The tide flows east and west. The flow reaches a speed of 5 knots at springs.

Mulroy Bay, third narrows: The south-east going stream begins at 2 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Galway. The north-west going stream begins at 3 hours and 35 minutes after high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 8 knots at springs. A tidal rapid forms, with a difference in level of up to half a metre.

Broad Water: Away from the Third Narrows, there are only weak streams in Broad Water.

Rossnakill Strait, Moross Channel: The south south-east going stream begins at 4 hours and 35 minutes after high water at Galway. The north north-west going stream begins at 1 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Galway. The tide runs strongly. The times give are approximate.

North Water: Away from the Moross Channel entrance, the streams within North Water are weak.

Fanad Head: The east going stream begins at 2 hours and 20 minutes before high water at Galway. The west going stream begins at 3 hours and 5 minutes after high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs.

Lough Swilly entrance, between Dunaff Head and Fanad Head: The north going stream begins at 2 hours and 30 minutes after high water at Galway. The south going stream begins at 5 hours before high water at Galway. The north going stream reaches a speed of 1.7 knots at springs. The south going stream reaches a speed of 1.6 knots at springs.

Dunaff Head: The north-east going stream begins at 1 hours and 30 minutes after high water at Galway. The south-west going stream begins at 4 hours and 15 minutes after high water at Galway. The flow reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.

Lough Swilly, north east of Ballymastocker Bay: The tide flows north and south. The north going stream reaches a speed of 1.5 knots at springs. The south going stream reaches a speed of 1 knots at springs.

Lough Swilly: Streams in Lough Swilly are less than 1-1.5 knots except around Inch Island - off it's north-west corner between the Island and Rathmullan, and in Fahan Creek to its north-east.

Lough Swilly off Buncrana: The north going stream begins at 1 hours and 30 minutes before high water at River Foyle (lisahally). The south going stream begins at 5 hours after high water at River Foyle (lisahally).

Buncrana Bay eddy: An eddy forms in the Bay.

Lough Swilly, Rathmullan Pier: The north-east going stream begins at 1 hours and 30 minutes before high water at River Foyle (lisahally). The south-west going stream begins at 5 hours after high water at River Foyle (lisahally). The north-east going stream reaches a speed of 1.8 knots at springs. The south-west going stream reaches a speed of 1.4 knots at springs.

Fahan Channel: In the channel leading into Fahan Creek and by the marina at Fahan: The tide flows south south-east and north north-west. The flow reaches a speed of 2 knots at springs.. The stream can reach 3 knots near low water when the banks of the creek dry.

Notes

Access/Egress

Tra na Rossan: (NQ 305 077) g Parking area at road end. 150m carry to beach and up to 300m to the sea at low tide.

Fanny’s Bay pier: (NQ 303 047) g Working pier, should be possible to park.

Woodquarter Pier: (NV 366 957) g Pier by car park and picnic site.

Mulroy Drive: (NV 377 955) g Large parking area just off the road, with quay and access to water.

Kerrykeel: (NV 390 981) g Large quay with slipway, space to park a car or two. A little more space to park in a layby 450m north.

Upper Town: (NV 393 997) g Small parking area, picnic site, with access to foreshore.

Rathmullan Pier: (NV 473 918) g Just short of the pier there is a large car park with access to the beach.

Inch Pier: (NV 483 904) g Pier and beach. Space to park one or two cars.

Fahan: (NV 506 907) g Lots of space to park at and just before marina entrance. Possible to launch from the beach to the south at high water. There is a slipway into the marina usable at all states of the tide.

Roxtown Harbour: (NQ 515 127) g Small quay with spillway and access to stony beach. Space to park a car or two.

Suggested trips

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