Quite a few summers have passed since we’ve had the pleasure of an extended stay on the Emerald Isle. A summer trip in 2020 has more Zoom software updates than schedule conflicts so the decision was easy - off we went. After two weeks of quarantine, upgrading our sleep score and downgrading our tan we were ready to re-discover the amazing cold water swim spots of Dublin and beyond. The locations hadn’t changed but our perspectives had. We met with some local sea swimmers who embraced the cultural shift rather than act as gate-keepers to the cold dipping Wim Hof lifestyle they’ve lived by for so long. Have a scroll down our list below as we feature some of the top spots to freeze your bod and free your mind (and possibly have a rewarding pint after).

1. SEAPOINT - DUBLIN

Possibly the most relaxing spot in Dublin to take a dip. When the tide is high there are plenty of paved entry spots to the water giving you the option of slowly walking down the ramp thinking “If my knees are this cold how will my noodle feel in a few seconds” . The answer is frozen like that Momenti pizza in the freezer you bought after Bernard Brogan ate one and still ran 16.2 on the Late Late Show beep test.

Suggested itinerary:

Hit Seapoint when there’s a 7am high tide then cruise to Bear Market Coffee in Blackrock Village for a chin wag with the gang. You’ll be feeling right as rain by 9am ready to start the day.

A view of the Poolbeg towers from Seapoint

SPOTTED: Noodles in the wild at Seapoint

2. THE BAILEY JUMPS - HOWTH, DUBLIN

We had an absolutely magical adventure to the cliff jumping Mecca of our North Dublin childhood. We were vacationing through memories as we traversed down the cliff side to ‘The Bailey’. Steeped in Nostalgia this swim spot is tough to find. Hike down a narrow laneway, hop a fence and rope climb down the side of a cliff to this awesome rocky landscape with multiple spots to jump in. For more clues on how to find it check out our instagram post with a few more pictures and a GeoTag. Tap ‘Lions Head Howth’ into maps for a driving location when you set off.

Suggested itinerary:

Attempt to get a crew out of bed for 9am and embark in convoy out to Howth. It’s a good adventure in a group and the rope climb is always a good laugh. If you make it to the cliff by 11am you might be brave enough to jump off the top ropes by 11:30. You’ll have definitely earned your lunchtime pint at The Summit , we sure did.

3. SALTERSTOWN PIER - COUNTY LOUTH

Salterstown pier may be off the beaten track but we’ve included it for it’s awesome views and great community. When the tide is out in Dundalk bay you may have to walk for 10 minutes on the sand before touching water. It is for that reason that the sea swimmers of County Louth have their meet-up time planned by mother nature. High tide engulfs the entire pier with locals sitting waist high on the side rails chatting up a storm.

Suggested Itinerary:

Just check the damn tide and be ready to ham it up with the Real Housewives of Dundalk. Cruise to The Glyde Inn after for the after show special.

SPOTTED: Noodles in the wild at Salterstown

4. THE FORTY FOOT - DUN LAOGHAIRE, DUBLIN

Arguably Irelands most famous swim spot features in James Joyce’s Ulysses with Buck Mulligan braving the ‘scrotom tightening sea’. We certainly had some ice cold noodles emerging from the frigid waters here. The beauty of The 40 Foot is the accessibility of the water even at low tide, but if you’re going to ‘send it’ off the top ropes we’d suggest cruising by at high waters.

Suggested Itinerary:

The holy grail of Irish cold water swimming now has an ace up its sleeve with Fad Saoil Saunas. Former Leinster & Connacht rugby player Steve Crosbie along with a crew of good humans run an epic sauna experience for after your cold dip. You can now clear your head in the frigid Irish waters before stepping into steam heat to get some feeling back in the limbs. Keep an eye out for their latest creation The Yard, a hub for local small businesses featuring a second sauna location. We’re stoked to be making custom Fad Saoil Noodle Bagz for all of the sea swimmers and sauna sausages of Dublin. Keep an eye out for the ‘Forty Foot’ wall art inspired by our hand drawn Noodle Bagz design and brought to life by top lad @Shane_Ha .

Want some custom Noodle Bagz for your swim club? “Ah go on click here”

SPOTTED: Noodles in the wild at THE 40 foot

5. THE DEVILS GLEN - COUNTY WICKLOW

This is a class one if you’re interested in a hike with a happy ending (we mean a waterfall, you’re thinking of The Furry Glen). Throw ‘Devils Glen Forest Car Park’ into maps and it’ll take you to a groovy scenic hike in Ashford, county wicklow. The walk to the waterfall is about 4km, easy going for you fit noodles. Word of warning, the rocks are very slippy so tread carefully, I fell on my arse.

Suggested Itinerary:

Sure make a day of it, flask of Barrys tea and some chocolate Hobnobs and you’ll be laughing. Laughing with a sore arse…

SPOTTED: NOODLES IN THE WILD AT THE DEVILS GLEN

6. THE VICO - DUBLIN

Oooof The Vico can be lit. Etched into the Dalkey cliff side off Vico Road a sunny day can bring hoards of young fellas & a fair few girlos. Pictured above is one of the last few sunny days of the summer. They say 2020 is a year to be forgotten, well not this day, it was a blissful one. Let’s put a note on here that The Vico has a small but consistent community of nudists. Usually when you throw on the Noodle Bagz you’ll be showing more skin than most folk, Not this time buddy, it’s flute city down there.

Suggested Itinerary:

After a glorious dip at The Vico we sat outside at Finnegan’s of Dalkey and went to town on five pints of Guinness and fish & chips. Apparently that’s Bono’s local spot, hard to spot him with a mask and the glasses though.

7. HIGH ROCK - MALAHIDE DUBLIN

There’s currently a battle between the towns of Portmarnock and Malahide for the right to call High Rock their own. When you google ‘Things To Do in Portmarnock’ the first suggestion is Malahide castle, tough break lads, first suggestion is to leave. To be fair if things ever get physical Portmarnock can call up the Donaghmede crew for backup. Malahide would surely bring the town limit back to Gibney’s then.

Suggested Itinerary:

Gibney’s is actually class, so go there after for a pint. High Rock is best for a winter sunrise dip, looks like Crete feels like sleet.

8. THE BULL WALL - CLONTARF, DUBLIN

We’re awfully fond of swimming down on Bull Island. There’s a fantastic community of local swimmers and a nostalgic view of the iconic Poolbeg chimneys from the north side. You might catch Damien Dempsey out here for a cold dip, he hasn’t worn Noodle Bagz yet but sure it’s all good. The old bathing area has seen better days and could do with a revamp, early dippers might find a few empty cans from last nights session. An easy way to banish the smell of Dutch Gold is to dive right in and an easy way to be a good Dubliner is to leave the place cleaner than how you found it.

Suggested Itinerary:

A charming new addition to Bull Island is Happy Out cafe. And if your ma doesn’t treat you to a toasty here after your swim is she really your ma!? She’ll split it with you though because dinner is in five hours and you wouldn’t want to spoil it… “Mam I’m 32 ye know”

9. POLL NA BPEIST (THE WORMHOLE) - INISHMOR, (Aran Islands)

Best ‘till last on this list? Straight up yes. Inishmore (the biggest of the Aran Islands) is home to one of the most spiritual swimming holes you’ll ever experience. Experts say the limestone rock was eroded in such a way to naturally create this 25 meter perfectly rectangular swimming pool… pffft, come on people it was aliens, get your tinfoil hats on. The direct translation of ‘Poll na bPeist’ is ‘The Wormhole’, but with the beautiful Irish language context is everything. In this case a more apt English version is ‘The Sea Monsters Lair’ a name given by the local parents who thought the myth would keep their kids from swimming in the dangerous tidal waters. As we hiked over the karst, dystopian like landscape towards Poll na bPeist we got the feeling that young island lads & lassies for years have made that walk, excitement building for the moment that the bravest unit would jump from the top. I’ll tell you one thing, it’s a lot higher in person.

Suggested Itinerary:

We suggest spending the night in Doolin and grabbing the first ferry over in the morning. If it’s a choppy day expect that seafood platter and four pints of Smithwicks from the night before to come up within 15 minutes. Once you get to the island, apologize to the ferry crew for barfing on deck and head straight to the bike rentals. Hook an immediate left heading past the beach then take the unmarked stone wall road on the right hand side, heading across the the island. There’s a few hills on this cycle so get your arse out of the saddle. After about 30 mins (40 for nerds) you’ll see a tiny wood sign for the wormhole. The road soon ends where you can ditch the bikes and begin the 25 minute walk (25 for nerds ‘cause walking pace is pretty much the same) towards the wormhole. Follow the ominous red arrow paint marks to the promised land and feel the same fear and excitement that every Island rascal must have felt when they first saw Poll na bPeist. Oh and when all is said and done head to Joe Watty’s for a few scoops.