Rush South Beach
The name Rush is derived from the Irish Ros-Éo, meaning penninsula or promontory of the yew trees. Rush is a small seaside town. The South Beach is a long, sandy beach approximately 2.4 km's in length. The beach is backed by a well established sand dune system, which depends on the root system of the marram grass to stop the wind from blowing the sand away. Rogerstown Estuary, an intertidal salt marsh, lies to the southern tip of the beach. The estuary is a Wildfowl Sanctuary, meaning that it is a prohibited area during the open seasons hunting period (September to January). The estuary provides a rich source of food for species of geese, ducks and wading birds especially in the winter months and it is a designated Special Protection Area (SPA).
There is a large public car-park located at the beach. Rush Town is served by the No. 33 bus service from Dublin City Centre and the South Beach is approximately a 5-minute walk from the bus stop.
Locate Rush South Beach on Map
Bathing Water Quality
Rush South Beach is one of the designated beaches under the Quality of Bathing Waters Regulations, 1992. Regular monitoring is carried out on the beach during the summer months as required by the Regulations.
You can download below the charts to view the Bathing Water Quality for Rush South Beach.
Lifeguard Information
All potential visitors to the beach are reminded of the dangers that exist along our coastline during the bathing season.
Rush South Beach is guarded by Lifeguards during the bathing season. In 2009 it is guarded at weekends from the 30th of May to the 31st of August (11.00am to 7.00pm).
Weekday cover may be provided in August 2009, depending on weather and staffing considerations.
The presence of lifeguards on duty is indicated by the flying of the red/yellow flag.
Lambay Island
Lambay is the largest island off Ireland's east coast and was referred to as early as 150 AD by the Greeks as Limnus or Limni, meaning snail, because of its silhouette. Lambay, the name given to the island by Norsemen comes from the practice of sending ewes to the island in springtime. Colmcille visited the island in the 6th Century and he established a monastery there. Because of its location and strategic importance the island suffered many attacks over the centuries. The Vikings came to Lambay in 795, raided the monastery there and used the island as a base for attacking Fingal. Lambay became a haunt for pirates in the 15th Century and was subsequently populated by English colonists to drive smugglers off. The island became the home of the Baring family in 1904 and the architect Edward Lutyens was engaged to restore the old castle. Lord Revelstoke, one of the Barings and his family continued to live there and farm the island. Cows, sheep and deer graze on Lambay alongside its most unusual residents, the wallabies!
Lambay is a designated nature conservation site. It is internationally important for its breeding seabirds, and it has the biggest seabird colony in Ireland. Breeding species include Herring Gull, Puffin, Guillemot, Razorbill, Cormorant, Kittiwake and Gannet. In winter, Greylag, Barnacle and Brent Geese can also be seen on the island. Lambay supports the only colony of grey seals on the east coast.
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