Overview
Garretstown is a south-coast Irish beachbreak made up of two sandy beaches tucked between rocky, unsurfable reefs. It's an average wave that draws a big beginner crowd when it's small, and there are better setups elsewhere along the coast, but when the sand lines up with the swell it serves up fun wedges. The bottom is sand studded with exposed rock slabs, and the paddle out is short.
When It Works
Garretstown draws swell from the southwest through southeast, with southwest (SW) the best match, and it'll work with windswells too. It's usable from 0.6 m / 2 ft to 3.7 m / 12 ft and peels both left and right. Autumn, winter and spring are the seasons to target: it breaks year-round but tends to go flat through the summer.
Wind and Tide
Look for northeast (NE) offshore wind. It's best on low to mid tide, with a rising tide generally the better call. Steer clear at high tide, where the iron remains of old groynes in the middle of the beach make it dangerous.
Local Tips
Shortboards and fish suit the wedges here. It's a welcoming spot for beginners and the lineup stays quiet, though it can feel a little reserved. Watch the west end, where a bad rip runs and a reef is rumoured to fire when it's big and clean, and give the exposed rocks a wide berth.
Access
Reach it on the R604 and park right in front, either in the car park with free parking or on the roadside. There's a surf school on site.
