Overview

St. Finian's Bay - Bá Fhíonáin in Irish - is a crescent-shaped Atlantic bay on the Skellig Ring in southwest County Kerry, lying between Puffin Island to the north and Ducalla Head to the south. Known locally as "The Glen", the bay is flanked by gently sloping grassy hills and protective headlands, with the dramatic silhouette of the Skellig Islands visible offshore.

What You'll See

The main beach - locally called Glen's Beach or Reen Roe - is a small, sandy stretch with reliable Atlantic waves breaking against protruding cliffs at either end, giving it a wild and genuinely remote character. A small pier sits nearby and is a popular launching point for diving expeditions to the underwater cliffs around the Skellig Rocks.

A freshwater tap is available near the entrance to wash off sand after a swim. The view from the beach glides out across Puffin Island toward Skellig Michael and Little Skellig, with the distinctive Lemon Rock visible between them. Following the violent storms of January 2014, so much sand was stripped from the beach that the petrified remains of a 4,000-year-old prehistoric forest were revealed, and the stumps can occasionally still be seen at very low tides.

Skelligs Chocolate factory is a short walk from the beach, and Driftwood Surf & Cafe sits right on the bay.

Visitor Essentials

Access to the bay is free and open year-round. A small car park sits beside the beach, and additional parking is available at Skelligs Chocolate nearby. The bay has no lifeguard service - swimming and surfing are at your own risk. Most visitors spend 30 minutes to 2 hours here, depending on whether they combine the stop with beach time, chocolate tasting, or a meal.

Tips

St. Finian's Bay is a serious surf spot rather than a safe swimming beach - rip tides are among the strongest on this stretch of coast and the shore has rocky sections, so casual swimmers should be very cautious or avoid swimming here altogether. Experienced surfers will find consistent Atlantic swell.

The bay is fully exposed to the weather and can be blustery even on calm days elsewhere, so bring a windproof layer. Combine the visit naturally with Skelligs Chocolate, the Kerry Cliffs, Coomanaspig Pass, and Portmagee for a strong Skellig Ring day.

St. Finian's Bay Guide: https://theringofkerry.com/st-finians-bay