Fanore is a pure wave beach. Almost any west swell running finds its way onto this beach. The spot has a good rigging area and car park. During the summer months June-August there is a lifegaurd on duty here . Fanore experiences a thermal wind on warm days where there is an existing light south to south east wind. Galway bay around the next headland can be glassy and if you are lucky Fanore can have 4.7 metre wind. The wave here can be quite heavy and regularly changes the shape of the beach. Watch out for currents that can drag you infront of the rocks on either end. If you are not an experienced wave sailor then this is possibly not the place for your first step out in waves. Beach: Sand beach with rocks at each side. Wind: Works in Southerly or Northerly, Sometimes a thermal acceleration on warm days with a southerly breeze.
From Galway take the Limerick road and turn right in Ardrahan for Kinvara. Drive through Kinvara keep following signposts to Ballyvaughan. In the town centre of Ballyvaughan turn right at the "T" junction and follow the coast for about 10km untill you come to the sign that says Fanore. The beach is not far beyond this sign. The carpark has a stone wall and from the road you can see a small stone building that looks like a cottage by the car park. From Limerick: Head towards Ennis. Drive through Ennis. At the first roundabout on the far side of Ennis take a left for Lahinch. About 2-3km out this road there is a right turn for Corrofin. Take this turn and follow signposts for Lisdoonvarna. Keep going straight at Lisdoonvarna, a few kilometers outside Lisdoonvarna there is a crossroads. Take the right turn here and at the next junctions stay left. Follow the road until you get to Fanore. Parking: Plenty... can get full on Sundays and holidays with surfers and other beach users.
