Banna Strand, Ireland
Also within 20 km of Ballybunion
- Ballybunion Surf spot · 0.1 km from Ballybunion
- Beale Surf spot · 8.6 km from Ballybunion
- ballyheigue ireland southwest Surf spot · 17.8 km from Ballybunion
Watch this spot We email you when Banna Strand is worth the trip.
About Banna Strand
Facing, offshore wind, exposure, level and swell range are estimated. Facts: verified, surf details estimated.
The spot faces W (282°), so it takes swell from the W. The wind blows offshore from the E (102°). It is exposed to the open swell. It suits intermediate surfers and up. It works in 2–10 ft of swell. The sea floor shelves very gently: 10 m deep about 3.6 km out (1 in 357). On a typical 5 ft, 11 s swell the waves here would spill softly. The sea is about 9°C in February, its coldest month (4/3 or 5/4, boots and gloves), and 16°C in July, its warmest (3/2 wetsuit). For intermediate surfers the best months are usually April and May, with about 2 good days in 7. From the weather of past years. The town to stay in is Ballybunion.
Water about 14°C: 4/3 wetsuit and boots. Typical sea temperature for the time of year, not a forecast.
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From Chicago: about 16 h 15 door to door, one way. An estimate; the journey never changes the score.
Fly. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) to KIR, changing at Dublin Airport (DUB). About 14 flights a week that month.
See flights ORD → KIR · Skyscanner from about £365 returnAdGetting there. 50 min from the airport to Banna Strand.
Accommodation.
Nearest beds: Ballybunion, 22 km (about 40 min by car)Ad
No town with beds to book is nearer Banna Strand: plan on the drive each day you surf.
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote.
Room photos are examples, not these hotels (credits).
See all places to stay in Ballybunion, 22 km away (ad) on Booking.com →Closest towns to stay in
Ballybunion 39 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 11 places to stay · where Banna Strand stays
Places to stay in Ballybunion · Booking.com AdGlenbeigh 57 min by car · rooms from £95 a night · 13 places to stay
Places to stay in Glenbeigh · Booking.com Ad
Typical prices for a double room that month, not a quote. Drives are estimates.
Hire and lessons.
Surf lessons in Ballybunion · GetYourGuideAdBoard and wetsuit hire in Ballybunion · GetYourGuideAd
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Where it is
Banna Strand on Google Maps · Directions
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Forecast
The score for experts, coloured as on the area pages:GoodFairPoorToo bigToo small
| Day | Score for experts | Swell | Energy | Wind | Temp |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sun 18Oct | 14, too small | 2 ft10 ssoft | 93kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 1 knot, offshore | 13°C |
| Mon 19Oct | 51, good | 6 ft11 ssoft | 724kJ | offshorewind from the east, 5 knots, offshore | 11°C |
| Tue 20Oct | 35, too small | 5 ft10 ssoft | 392kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 13 knots, offshore | 11°C |
| Wed 21Oct | 22, poor | 7 ft10 smushy | 1,009kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 13 knots | 11°C |
| Thu 22Oct | 48, good | 6 ft10 ssoft | 680kJ | offshorewind from the south-east, 7 knots, offshore | 9°C |
| Fri 23Oct | 13, poor | 6 ft9 smushy | 630kJ | wind from the west-north-west, 24 knots | 10°C |
| Sat 24Oct | 32, poor | 8 ft10 ssoft | 1,056kJ | wind from the south-south-east, 14 knots | 15°C |
| Sun 25Oct | 31, poor | 9 ft12 smushy | 2,284kJ | wind from the south-south-west, 8 knots | 12°C |
| Mon 26Oct | 17, poor | 8 ft9 smushy | 966kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 19 knots | 14°C |
| Tue 27Oct | 9, too small | 6 ft9 smushy | 525kJ | wind from the west-south-west, 19 knots | 11°C |
Day scores here are the conditions out of 80; a trip's score on the results is the same conditions out of 100. The journey never scores. The forecast reaches about 10 days. Energy is the swell's power in kJ per metre of wave, from its height and interval: it grows with the square of each, so a long-period swell hits far harder than a short one the same size. The word under the swell is the wave's shape, our estimate from the sea floor. Wind is in knots: 10 kn is about 19 km/h. The arrow points where the wind blows to; offshore wind, blowing from the land out to sea, is green and says so.
Your trip, day by day
6 nights from Mon 19 Oct, leaving from Chicago, for expert surfers. Change dates
- Mon 19 OctTravel out
Fly ORD to KIR, changing at DUB, then 50 min by road. About 16h 15 door to door
- Tue 20 OctRest day
Too small: 5 ft at best.
- Wed 21 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 30 of 80.
- Thu 22 OctSurf Banna Strand
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 6 ft at 10 s, offshore wind.
- Fri 23 OctRest day
Nothing worth paddling out for: the best window scores 15 of 80.
- Sat 24 OctSurf Banna Strand
Best 10:00 to 13:00 local time: 8 ft at 10 s, wind 14 kn (26 km/h).
- Sun 25 OctTravel home
Fly ORD to KIR, changing at DUB, then 50 min by road. About 16h 15 door to door
Rough cost
About £1,050–£1,940 each for 6 nights, 2 people sharing a room. A guide from typical prices, not a quote: check the real prices before you book.
| What | How we worked it out | Each |
|---|---|---|
| Flights | return ORD to KIR, estimated from distance and season, changing at DUB, full-service airlines, with a hold bag | £365–£755 |
| To the UK airport | parking or the train, there and back | £35–£65 |
| Taxi | airport and back, shared | £50–£80 |
| Stay | 6 nights, a mid-range double, shared | £260–£430 |
| Food | 7 days eating out | £245–£455 |
| Board and wetsuit | 5 days, or about £85 to fly your own | £95–£155 |
| Total | £1,050–£1,940 |
Prices from public sources, checked in 2026: where they come from. Lessons, lift-pass deals and insurance are extra.
Places to eat near Ballybunion
- Atlantic European and Chinese Restaurant and TakeawayChinese · in the centre
- Perrozzi Family Restaurant & PizzeriaFish and chips · 0.3 km from the centre
- Take N' TasteIndian · 0.7 km from the centre
- The Lounge at Ballybunion Golf Course1.8 km from the centre
- Namirs Restaurant0.2 km from the centre
Within 2 km of the town centre, listed by how complete the listing is (website, opening hours, cuisine) and whether two sources name it. Not a judgement of the food: we have no reviews. Listings © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and Overture Maps Foundation. Credits
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