If, like most of us, you like a late-night scroll on Instagram or TikTok, you may have already heard of this epic secret Wexford beach.
Ireland boasts plenty of well-known golden stretches of sand that countless people flock to when the good weather hits.
It’s rare these days to find a real hidden gem among the masses of fantastic spots that have the crowds to match their popularity.
However, one beach in Wexford has managed to evade the crowds and popularity that others already have. Locals won’t like it, but we’re talking about Dollar Bay.
Dollar Bay, Co. Wexford – the talk of social media
Dollar Bay in County Wexford is the talk of Instagram Reels and TikTok videos right now. People are getting wind of its beauty, but also its hidden-gem appeal.
This is exactly how a place, fortunately or unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, loses its hidden gem appeal.
Sharing a great spot and its highlights with others is human nature, but so is the keen desire to protect the solitude and vulnerability of the lesser-known spots.
Dollar Bay is trending all over social media as one of Europe’s best hidden spots thanks to its peaceful nature, lack of crowds, and lovely water conditions.
Where it got its name – a pirate’s booty?
A secret Wexford beach that feels like paradise, Dollar Bay is located on the Hook Peninsula in County Wexford.
The beach is surrounded by rugged, grass-covered cliffs, and the land around the cliffs is mostly made of pasture and farmland. When you look out across the bay, your view also comprises more rugged hills.
Dollar Bay gets its name from a local legend about a pirate’s booty buried somewhere in the sand. As the legend goes, this money was once aboard the Earl of Sandwich ship in 1765, which was set to sail from London to Santa Cruz.
Some men on board wanted the dollars and other riches, like jewels and a small quantity of gold dust, to themselves, so they killed those on the ship and sailed for Irish shores.
On arrival at Waterford Harbour, they took the ship’s boat and sailed up the river, where, about two miles south of Duncannon Fort, they landed on a beach where they buried most of the treasure under the sand. Thus, Dollar Bay was born.
Safety and tidying up – watch out for jellyfish
One thing locals of the area will warn anyone going for a swim in Dollar Bay about is the jellyfish. Wexford waters are rife with jellyfish in the summer months, including large barrel jellyfish, compass jellyfish, and harmless moon jellyfish.
Be extra vigilant around the summer months, and if you do get stung, don’t listen to old wives’ tales and wash the affected area with seawater, removing any tentacles with gloves or tweezers, and then apply heat, like warm water, to the sting.
Another thing to be aware of is limited parking, and as always, keep Dollar Bay exactly as you left it. Take all of your rubbish home with you and don’t leave anything behind.
We want to preserve our beautiful shores for as long as humanly possible. Protecting the sanctity of all of our beautiful Irish beaches and the wildlife that call them home is of the upmost importance.
