- Sea temp 15.4 °C surface, modelled
- Air 13 °C Partly cloudy
- Wind 9 mph from NW · gust 18
- Next tide High 09:52 tomorrow · 4.8 m
Killough is a village and townland in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies on the Irish Sea shore near Ardglass, five miles southeast of Downpatrick. It is a conservation area known for its sycamore-lined main street. In the 2001 census, it had a population of 845 people.
Adapted from Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
Conditions now
Air
13°C
Partly cloudy
Sea temp
15.4°C
surface, modelled
Wind
9mph
from NW · gust 18 mph
Sea state0.6 mperiod 3 s · W
Swell0.2 m4 s · SW
Rain, 48 h4 mm
Water quality
Not a designated bathing water — not routinely sampled.
No published samples for this site yet.
Weekly lab samples, not real-time. Avoid bathing for 48 h after heavy rain.
Sewage & storm overflows
5 NI Water storm overflows within 1.2 mi.
Nearest 5
| Overflow | Distance | Classification | Spills/yr | Monitored |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Main Street Killough CSO → South Down |
240 yd | To be Determined | — | — |
| Downpatrick Road WwPS → South Down |
410 yd | To be Determined | — | — |
| Quay Lane CSO → Dundrum Bay Outer |
820 yd | To be Determined | — | — |
| Coneyisland Bay WwPS → South Down |
0.5 mi | To be Determined | — | — |
| Killough FA CSO | 1.0 mi | To be Determined | — | — |
Nearest wastewater treatment works: Coneyisland WwTW (0.6 mi → Dundrum Bay Outer) · Killough WwTW (1.1 mi → South Down).
Spill figures are modelled annual predictions, not measured events. Classification is NI Water's own.
Amenities nearby & features
Dogs, access & rules
Dogs allowed
- Dogs: No seasonal dog exclusion; keep dogs under control near livestock on the approach. Council byelaw
Parking
3
Cafes & food
e.g. Fired
2
Pubs & bars
e.g. Ann Boal Inn
3
Shops
e.g. Mace
1
Picnic tables
6
Benches
21
Bike parking
2
Information
23
Bins
11
Boating — nearest harbours & marinas
- Killough 670 yd
- Ardglass 1.6 mi
- Dundrum 8.0 mi
- Strangford 8.7 mi
- Portaferry 9.1 mi
Kind and ownership are DAERA's own classification. The feed carries no per-site facility data — call ahead for berthing, fuel, water or shore power.
Wildlife & designations
This beach lies in or within 0.6 mi of:
- ASSI Killough Bay and Strand Lough
- SPA Killough Bay
- Ramsar Killough Bay
Alerts & advisories
Weever fish
Lesser weever fish bury themselves in wet sand around the low-tide line in summer and have venomous dorsal spines. Wear beach shoes and shuffle your feet in the shallows. A sting is intensely painful but rarely serious: immerse the foot in water as hot as you can tolerate (about 40 C) for 30-90 minutes and seek help if a spine remains or swelling spreads.
Midges and clegs
Biting midges and clegs (horseflies) are worst on warm, still, overcast days and around dawn and dusk from late spring to early autumn, especially near dunes, marram grass and standing water. A breeze off the sea keeps them down. Cover up or use repellent at the back of the beach.
Jellyfish
Lion's mane and compass jellyfish are common off the Northern Ireland coast in summer and are often blown inshore and stranded after onshore winds. Lion's mane stings can be severe. Do not rub a sting; rinse with seawater, remove tentacles with a gloved hand or card, and use hot water or a cold pack for pain.
Seasonal dog restrictions
Many Northern Ireland councils restrict dogs from the main bathing area, or require dogs on leads, between 1 May and 30 September (Blue Flag beaches usually exclude dogs from the bathing zone entirely in season). Rules and dates vary by beach and council: check the signage at the entrance and your council's bathing-beach byelaws.