Brandon Bay - surf spot statistics

Brandon Bay in Ireland is a powerful, exposed beach break that works best with large, clean ground swells and offshore winds. The best time to surf here is during the winter months, particularly from November to February, when ground swells dominate (66-81%) and mean swell sizes are largest (1.6-1.8m). These months offer the most consistent and high-quality waves, though wind conditions are less favorable, with bad onshore winds occurring over 90% of the time. Early spring (March) still provides decent ground swell (71%) and slightly improved wind chances (12% good winds), making it a solid alternative with slightly smaller waves (1.5m). From April onward, ground swells drop significantly (below 50%), and wind swells or no-swell days increase, resulting in weaker, less reliable surf. Summer (June-August) is the least favorable, with minimal ground swells (10-17%), small wave heights (0.9-1.0m), and consistently poor winds (88-93% bad). Autumn (September-October) sees a gradual return of ground swells (35-52%) but still struggles with unfavorable winds (90-91% bad). In summary, winter is king for serious surfers here, offering the biggest and cleanest waves, but be prepared to battle frequent onshore winds. If you can score a rare clean day with offshore winds, it’ll be epic. For less experienced surfers or those willing to compromise, early spring and late autumn may provide occasional opportunities with smaller but more manageable conditions.

November at Brandon Bay offers consistent surf with an average swell height of 1.6m and a solid period of 11.9s, ensuring well-formed waves. The dominant swell direction is from the W-WNW, with the highest frequency of rideable waves (1.5m+) coming from WSW (1.7% of the time) and W (6.41% of the time). WNW also contributes, though smaller swells from this direction are more frequent. Wind conditions are less favorable, with only 9% of days providing ideal offshore or light winds for surfing. The prevailing winds tend to be from the S-SW sector (10-30kph), which can create onshore chop, though lighter winds (0-20kph) occur around 30% of the time, mostly from NW-NNW. Stronger winds (30+kph) are common from the SW-WSW, impacting wave quality. Overall, November delivers solid mid-sized waves with decent power, but wind conditions often limit the number of clean sessions. The best opportunities arise when W-WSW swells coincide with lighter NW winds—infrequent but excellent when they align. Expect a mix of peaky beachbreak-style waves with occasional sizeable sets, suitable for intermediate to advanced surfers.