Overview
Curracloe is one of the longest beaches in Wexford, a wide Blue Flag strand backed by pine forest a 15-minute drive from Wexford town. Three main entrances run north to south – Ballinesker, White Gap and Culleton’s Gap – with White Gap the largest and the one most people head for. Directly behind the sand is Curracloe Forest, the core of the Raven Nature Reserve, where pine woods meet the coastal slobs and wetlands and give the birds and small mammals a sheltered foothold against the open sea.
It’s busy on summer weekends and pretty quiet the rest of the year. If you only do one walk, take the forest-and-dune loop from White Gap; if you only do one swim, do it at White Gap too, where the lifeguards are.
Film history and local connections
Curracloe’s international moment came when it stood in for Omaha Beach in the opening D-Day sequence of Saving Private Ryan. Filming began on 27 June 1997 and ran for about two months, with a crew of roughly 1,500 building full-scale mock German defences along the dunes; many local people were taken on as extras. The beach turned up again in the 2015 film Brooklyn, as the home shore in Saoirse Ronan’s character’s memory. Informal markers near the car park still point out where the cameras stood, though the place is a working coastline first and a film location a distant second.
Walking and wildlife
The reserve is best on foot, with two main options:
- Raven Point wood walk – roughly 4.4 km (2.7 mi) one way, or an 8.5 km (5.3 mi) loop through pine forest and sand dunes, starting from the main car park. Timber posts mark the route, with regular openings to look for red squirrels and seabirds.
- Coastal path to Ballinesker – head south along the dune edge to Ballinesker Beach on an open, well-trodden path through shifting sand ridges. The forest trails are unlit, so plan to finish well before dusk.
Spring and autumn migrations are the rewarding times for birdwatching along the dunes, wetlands and forest edge: oystercatchers, curlews, redshanks and greylag geese are all regular, with grey seals offshore and wild geese wintering on the reserve. The reserve takes its name from the raven, which still roosts in the taller pines.
Surfing and water activities
Curracloe’s gentle, rolling swell makes it one of Ireland’s more forgiving beginner surf spots. Surf Shack Ireland, beside the main car park, runs guided lessons and hires out boards, stand-up paddleboards and kayaks through the warmer months, for all ages and abilities. Outside lesson hours the beach is open for free swimming and paddling, and the fine sand and lower-shore tide pools make for decent beachcombing.
Practical information
- Entry and facilities – access is free and year-round. A new building at White Gap, opened in late 2025, has hot showers, changing rooms, toilets, lockers and a Changing Places room; toilets cost €0.50 and indoor hot showers €3.
- Parking – about 500 spaces, most at White Gap (4 disabled spaces), with more at Ballinesker (2 disabled) and Colleton’s Gap. The main car park fills fast on summer weekends.
- Accessibility – beach wheelchairs are free at White Gap; pre-booking is recommended, through the beach warden on 087 3543889 or 087 9588303. The boardwalk at Ballinesker is nearly flat and the best option for wheelchairs.
- Cycling – you can cycle out from Wexford town on waymarked cycle route 2; a map is available at the Wexford Tourist Office.
- Safety – swim within the lifeguarded zone at White Gap and check tide and weather before heading out. Dune paths and forest boardwalks turn slippery after rain, so wear proper footwear. Dogs are welcome under control, especially during the spring nesting season.
Getting there and nearby stops
Curracloe village sits on the R742, about 8 km northeast of Wexford town, with the beach a further few minutes east; it’s signposted from the town and the N11/N25. Bus Éireann services to the area are limited, and frequencies drop outside peak season, so check times before relying on them.
A short drive opens up more of the coast: Blackhall Strand, the maritime town of Courtown, the reconstructed sites at the Irish National Heritage Park, and the headland walk at Cahore Point further south.
The new changing block is a real upgrade for a sea swim – hot shower, somewhere dry to change – but the car park still fills by mid-morning on a hot weekend. Come early, or come off-season and have the dunes to yourself.